IOC President Thomas Bach "isn't certain if, or when, esports might be incorporated into the Olympic games," but on Saturday he was clear about the "need to meet some conditions before being considered," according to Stephen Wade of the AP. Bach said, "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." Wade noted esports are "being held for the first time at the Asian Games as a demonstration sport, and could be a full-medal event in four years" in China. Bach "still needs convincing," despite the IOC "holding an esports forum" in July at IOC HQ in Switzerland. Bach said, "Every combat sport has its origins in a real fight among people. 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" (AP, 9/1).
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