- Title: Esports with violent content contrary to Olympic values - Bach
- Date: 19th April 2018
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT, THOMAS BACH, SAYING: "The Olympic games have always to be opened to new sports without forgetting our roots but tradition alone is (of) no value and if you try just stick to tradition and you do not open up to sports practiced by the younger generations then you can lose your relevance very, very quickly."
- Embargoed: 3rd May 2018 17:05
- Keywords: International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach India New Delhi Electronic gaming Esports Wall Climbing Tokyo
- Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- City: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0048C3K37J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Esports with violent or discriminatory content cannot be considered for the Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said on Thursday (April 19).
Esports, the competitive side of electronic gaming, boasts an estimated 250 million players worldwide in a growing market worth about a billion dollars a year.
The IOC in November recognised esports as a sports activity and it will be a medal event at the 2022 Asian Games.
Bach, during a news conference in New Delhi, acknowledged the popularity of esports among young people but was wary of gaming's often-violent narrative.
Grappling with an ageing traditional audience and the waning appeal of several Olympic sports, the IOC is desperate to woo young people.
The introduction of sport climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Games is seen as another step in that direction and Bach said it was necessary to embrace new disciplines to stay relevant.
Earlier in the day, Bach met the new set of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officials and sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Olympic restriction: Clip cannot be re-published without additional clearances from the IOC.
