The closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics saw Tokyo teasing the 2020 Games with a video featuring Pac-Man and Mario. The 2024 Games in Paris, however, might take things a step further.
Tony Estanguet, co-president of the Paris Olympic committee, says he plans to hold talks with eSports officials and the International Olympic Committee about adding competitive video games to the Games.
It’s not as unusual as it might sound. eSports are big money events (the ongoing International Dota 2 Championships have a prize pool of $24 million) with even bigger viewership numbers. Organizers of the Asian Games, a Pancontinental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia, have confirmed eSports as a demonstration event in 2018. And at the 2022 Games in Hangzhou, China, it will have full medal status.