THE Olympic dreams of couch potatoes have been resurrected after a Paris 2024 bid chief said he wants to bring esports to the Games.
The preparation of future gold medallists could yet prove to be a mix of pizza, beer, cigarettes and hours sat video gaming.
And that is thanks to former canoeing gold medallist Tony Estanguet.
Competitive video gaming has a global audience of round 320 million and brought in £400million in revenue in 2016.
Estanguet believes that esports must be considered for the Olympics if the Games are to stay relevant for younger generations.
Esports will be included in the 2022 Asian Games and could make its Olympic bow two years later in Paris – with the city set to be confirmed as 2024 hosts at IOC talks in Peru next month.
Estanguet, co-president of the Paris Olympic bid committee, says he will hold talks with esports representatives and the IOC about gaming joining the 2024 program.
He told The Associated Press: “We have to look at it because we can’t say, ‘It’s not us. It’s not about Olympics.’
“The youth, yes they are interested in esport and this kind of thing. Let’s look at it. Let’s meet them. Let’s try if we can find some bridges.
“I don’t want to say ‘no’ from the beginning. I think it’s interesting to interact with the IOC, with them, the esports family, to better understand what the process is and why it is such a success.”
The 2024 program will start to be shaped in 2019 with a final decision on the addition of sports in Paris to be taken by the IOC after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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Estanguet added: “There is some time to look at it, to interact, to engage.
“We will spend some time after (the IOC meeting in September) Lima to engage with new people and stakeholders.
“The IOC will have the last … say, if they want esports on the program. Let’s discuss among ourselves.”
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