Paris open to video games at Olympics

Officials to hold talks about possibility of esports featuring at 2024 Games

Published Modified

Video gamers could be competing for Olympic medals at the 2024 Games, Paris officials have said.

The capital will be confirmed as 2024 hosts at an International Olympic Committee gathering in Lima, Peru, on September 13, after rival Los Angeles agreed a deal to host the 2028 Games.

Tony Estanguet, co-president of the Olympic bid committee, said that Paris officials will hold talks with esports representatives and the IOC about the possibility of egaming joining the 2024 schedule of events.

Esports will be a fully recognised event at the 2022 Asian Games, though details of the games to be contested have not been revealed. The biggest games at popular esports events, however, include League of Legends, Call of Duty, Dota 2 and FIFA are among the most popular games in competition.

Mr Estanguet told the Associate Press: "The youth, are interested in esport ... Let's look at it. Let's meet them. Let's try if we can find some bridges."