Olympics open to welcoming virtual sports ‘but not being sat on sofa’
Virtual sports could be a fixture of future Olympic Games – but not if they involve sitting on a sofa with a controller.
The popularity of Esports continues to grow around the world with players competing for huge sums of cash as well as fame on video games including Call of Duty, Fortnite and EA Sports FC among others.
That has led to the consideration of the International Olympic Committee of branching out, having already held an official Esports week earlier in the year – but they will be far stricter when it comes to the official Olympiad.
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International Olympic Committee’s sports director Kit McConnell told The Daily Mail: "The door is open explicitly for virtual forms.
"Where there is a full physical replication of the traditional sport, the door is open, and we are governed by the respective international federations."
He added: "We are committed to developing the virtual side of sport."
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McConnell suggested that the static cycling could have a place in future games thanks to the physical output it requires.
Events have already been decided for the 2024 Paris event as well as the 2028 games in Los Angeles, with 20232 in Brisbane a potential summer of change.
The update comes after the IOC announced plans to explore a full Olympic Esports Games, which will included controller-based competition.
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Earlier this year they hosted the Olympic Esports Week with the five-ring branding, with winners handed gold silver and bronze trophies rather than medals.
The events included virtual versions of sailing, motor racing, cycling and baseball, as well as dancing, chess, tennis, shooting and taekwondo.
Among the gold trophy winners was a British competitor Lou Bates, who won as part of Team Fuego in cycling.
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