Esports will not be added to Olympics because ‘killer games are too violent’ says IOC president Thomas Bach | Gaming News
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The International Olympic Committee will not consider adding esports to a future Olympics because they are “too violent”, president Thomas Bach has said.
The recent Asian Games saw esports included for the first time in its history, and with an apparent global audience of 320m people, it has gained serious traction to the point that inclusion in the Olympics does not seem so farfetched.
But the IOC’s president has played down that prospect, and drawn on the type of games that are currently available within esports as his main reason for not allowing it to be considered.
Rio 2016 Olympics – in pictures
1/18 Adam Peaty celebrates his record-breaking gold medal
Team GB swimmer Adam Peaty celebrates winning the gold medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke – as well as setting a new world record.
Ian Walton/Getty Images
2/18 Refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini represents Syria in Rio
Yusra Mardini, a swimmer from Syria, competed at the Rio 2016 Games as part of the Olympic refugee team. This was the first year the Games featured a team made up of stateless refugees, including the 18-year-old Mardini who swam part of the dangerous journey from war-torn Syria to Greece less than a year ago.
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for IOC
3/18 Chris Mears and Jack Laugher make a synchronised splash
Team GB divers Jack Laugher and Chris Mears compete in the Men’s Diving Synchronised 3m Springboard Final, winning Britain’s first gold medal in the event.
Adam Pretty/Getty Images
4/18 Gold medalist couple Laura Trott and Jason Kenny in emotional moment
Gold medalist Jason Kenny of Great Britain celebrates with girlfriend, cycling gold medalist Laura Trott of Great Britain, after winning the Men’s Keirin Finals race.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
5/18 Beach volleyball players’ contrasting attire sparks debate
Egypt’s Doaa Elghobashy made headlines for the full-length outfits she and her partner donned to compete in Rio, with media referring to the contrast with Italy’s Marta Menegatti as a “culture clash”. Elghobashy was also the first Olympic beach volleyball player to compete whilst wearing a hijab.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
6/18 Touching glimpse of unity as North and South Korean gymnasts share smiles
South Korean gymnast Lee Eun-ju, right, and her North Korean counterpart Hong Un Jong pose together for photographers during the artistic gymnastics women’s qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Kim Do-hoon/Yonhap via AP
7/18 Max Whitlock brings home Team GB’s first ever gymnastics gold
Max Whitlock of Great Britain competes in the Men’s Pommel Horse Final, beating teammate Louis Smith with two gold medals to his silver.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
8/18 Phelps takes home his fifth gold medal from Rio
USA’s Michael Phelps taking part in the Men’s 100m Butterfly Semifinal during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Francois-Xavier Marita/AFP/Getty Images
9/18 Islam El-Shehaby was sent home for refusing to shake his opponent’s hand
Egyptian judoka, Islam El-Shehaby, (R), was removed from the Rio Games after refusing to shake the hand of Israeli victor, Or Sasson, (L). The incident took place after his opponent beat him in the over-100kg competition, with less than two minutes remaining. The athlete was reprimanded by the IOC and sent home.
Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty Images
10/18 City of God turned gold medalist
After growing up in the City of God favela in Rio’s slums, Rafaela Silva falls to her knees with joy after winning Brazil their first gold medal of the Games in judo.
David Ramos/Getty Images
11/18 Andy Murray wins the only Team GB tennis medal in Rio
Tennis star Andy Murray in the men’s singles, playing Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro. He later took the gold medal for the event; the only team GB tennis medal at the Games.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
12/18 Charlotte Dujardin rides Valegro to victory
Charlotte Dujardin, riding Valegro, competes in the dressage event in Rio. She went on to win Gold in the individual dressage, and celebrated the news with her now-fiance.
AP Photo/John Locher
13/18 American runner Abbey D’Agostino takes a tumble
Abbey D’Agostino of the USA (R) is assisted by Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand after colliding during the Women’s 5000m heats. Both athletes were recognised for their Olympic spirit by the IOC.
Ian Walton/Getty Images
14/18 Mo’s double gold for GB
Team GB’s Mo Farah can’t hide his excitement after winning gold in the Men’s 5000m finals.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
15/18 Bolt secures his sporting legacy in Rio
Usain Bolt is streets ahead of the competition in unbeatable triple-treble gold medal win.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
16/18 Simone Biles is now seen by many as one of the USA’s best athletes
US gymnast Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during Women’s qualification for Artistic Gymnastics at the Rio Games. Biles became famous throughout the gymnastic events for “The Biles”, her signature move encompassing a double back somersault with a twist.
David Ramos/Getty Images
17/18 British boxer brings back gold
Nicola Adams of Great Britain and Sarah Ourahmoune of France in action during the Women’s Fly (48-51kg) Final Bout. Adams went on to win gold in this event, the only gold of Team GB’s three boxing medals.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
18/18 Triathlete brothers take first and second place
Team GB triathletes Alistair Brownlee and Jonny Brownlee compete during the Men’s Triathlon at Fort Copacabana in Rio.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
1/18 Adam Peaty celebrates his record-breaking gold medal
Team GB swimmer Adam Peaty celebrates winning the gold medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke – as well as setting a new world record.
Ian Walton/Getty Images
2/18 Refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini represents Syria in Rio
Yusra Mardini, a swimmer from Syria, competed at the Rio 2016 Games as part of the Olympic refugee team. This was the first year the Games featured a team made up of stateless refugees, including the 18-year-old Mardini who swam part of the dangerous journey from war-torn Syria to Greece less than a year ago.
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for IOC
3/18 Chris Mears and Jack Laugher make a synchronised splash
Team GB divers Jack Laugher and Chris Mears compete in the Men’s Diving Synchronised 3m Springboard Final, winning Britain’s first gold medal in the event.
Adam Pretty/Getty Images
4/18 Gold medalist couple Laura Trott and Jason Kenny in emotional moment
Gold medalist Jason Kenny of Great Britain celebrates with girlfriend, cycling gold medalist Laura Trott of Great Britain, after winning the Men’s Keirin Finals race.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
5/18 Beach volleyball players’ contrasting attire sparks debate
Egypt’s Doaa Elghobashy made headlines for the full-length outfits she and her partner donned to compete in Rio, with media referring to the contrast with Italy’s Marta Menegatti as a “culture clash”. Elghobashy was also the first Olympic beach volleyball player to compete whilst wearing a hijab.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
6/18 Touching glimpse of unity as North and South Korean gymnasts share smiles
South Korean gymnast Lee Eun-ju, right, and her North Korean counterpart Hong Un Jong pose together for photographers during the artistic gymnastics women’s qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Kim Do-hoon/Yonhap via AP
7/18 Max Whitlock brings home Team GB’s first ever gymnastics gold
Max Whitlock of Great Britain competes in the Men’s Pommel Horse Final, beating teammate Louis Smith with two gold medals to his silver.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
8/18 Phelps takes home his fifth gold medal from Rio
USA’s Michael Phelps taking part in the Men’s 100m Butterfly Semifinal during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Francois-Xavier Marita/AFP/Getty Images
9/18 Islam El-Shehaby was sent home for refusing to shake his opponent’s hand
Egyptian judoka, Islam El-Shehaby, (R), was removed from the Rio Games after refusing to shake the hand of Israeli victor, Or Sasson, (L). The incident took place after his opponent beat him in the over-100kg competition, with less than two minutes remaining. The athlete was reprimanded by the IOC and sent home.
Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty Images
10/18 City of God turned gold medalist
After growing up in the City of God favela in Rio’s slums, Rafaela Silva falls to her knees with joy after winning Brazil their first gold medal of the Games in judo.
David Ramos/Getty Images
11/18 Andy Murray wins the only Team GB tennis medal in Rio
Tennis star Andy Murray in the men’s singles, playing Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro. He later took the gold medal for the event; the only team GB tennis medal at the Games.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
12/18 Charlotte Dujardin rides Valegro to victory
Charlotte Dujardin, riding Valegro, competes in the dressage event in Rio. She went on to win Gold in the individual dressage, and celebrated the news with her now-fiance.
AP Photo/John Locher
13/18 American runner Abbey D’Agostino takes a tumble
Abbey D’Agostino of the USA (R) is assisted by Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand after colliding during the Women’s 5000m heats. Both athletes were recognised for their Olympic spirit by the IOC.
Ian Walton/Getty Images
14/18 Mo’s double gold for GB
Team GB’s Mo Farah can’t hide his excitement after winning gold in the Men’s 5000m finals.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
15/18 Bolt secures his sporting legacy in Rio
Usain Bolt is streets ahead of the competition in unbeatable triple-treble gold medal win.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
16/18 Simone Biles is now seen by many as one of the USA’s best athletes
US gymnast Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during Women’s qualification for Artistic Gymnastics at the Rio Games. Biles became famous throughout the gymnastic events for “The Biles”, her signature move encompassing a double back somersault with a twist.
David Ramos/Getty Images
17/18 British boxer brings back gold
Nicola Adams of Great Britain and Sarah Ourahmoune of France in action during the Women’s Fly (48-51kg) Final Bout. Adams went on to win gold in this event, the only gold of Team GB’s three boxing medals.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
18/18 Triathlete brothers take first and second place
Team GB triathletes Alistair Brownlee and Jonny Brownlee compete during the Men’s Triathlon at Fort Copacabana in Rio.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
“We cannot have in the Olympic program a game which is promoting violence or discrimination, so-called ‘killer games’. They, from our point of view, are contradictory to the Olympic values and cannot therefore be accepted,” Bach told AP when appearing at the Asian Games last week.
Its inclusion in the Asian Games is only as a demonstration sport this time around, though there are grounds for it to be a full-medal event in four years’ time at Hangzhou in China.
Bach won an Olympic gold medal himself when competing in fencing at Montreal 1976, but while he accepted that combat sports do have a place at the Olympics, he expressed concern about how they meet what the Games stands for.
“Of course every combat sport has its origins in a real fight among people,” he added. “But sport is the civilized expression about this. If you have egames where it’s about killing somebody, this cannot be brought into line with our Olympic values.”
The case to include esports has not been helped by the recent shooting in the United States at a video games tournament in a Florida shopping centre, where three people including the shooter died and 10 others were injured.
Organisers of the Asian Games expressed their sympathy for the victims, but the head of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation, Kenneth Fok, blamed the US’s gun laws and not the impact of esports on the shooter, saying: “I think this is a bigger issue of gun control and access to guns.”
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