No to esports at the Olympics

This letter is addressed to the International Olympic Committee, international federations and National Olympic Committees.

A group of 15 Canadian athletes, all world competition medalists, are joining forces with health experts to call on the IOC to halt any plans to introduce eSports into the programming of the Olympic Games.

The introduction of eSports at the Asian Games in 2018 and those of Southeast Asia (in 2019) and the possibility that they will be in the Olympics would, in our opinion, convey a message that would be at odds with the Olympic spirit and the promotion of healthy sports.

• Listen to Pierre Nantel’s interview with athlete Charlie Bilodeau on QUB radio:

Electronic sports and sedentary lifestyle

Today, all developed societies are grappling with the challenge of promoting, among their populations, the adoption of a physically active lifestyle, thus wishing to reduce the costs and the harmful effects that a sedentary lifestyle has on health. both physical and mental.

We are of the opinion that an organization as influential as the Olympic Movement cannot, with a good conscience, promote the practice of electronic sports which clearly promotes a sedentary lifestyle, a significant risk factor in the development many chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Therefore, we ask the Olympic Movement to abandon any plans to introduce eSports into the Olympic Games.

We also ask not to grant an additional broadcasting platform or to promote the use of video games in the calendar and broadcasting of the Olympic Games.

This hobby already has an exceptional distribution throughout the world and the financial means to hold lucrative competitions all over the planet which are already attracting a large number of followers. We demand not to add the Olympic Games to these forums.

Promote physical activity

The great celebration of sport that is the Olympics must celebrate and promote the practice of physical activity and convey the clear and unequivocal message that we must move and dream of surpassing oneself through sport.

This lobbying process with the IOC is the initiative of Capsana, a social organization whose mission is to help individuals become actors in their health.

Guy Desrosiers, chef de la direction, Capsana

D^re Magali Dufour, professor and researcher, UQAM

Dr Martin Juneau, MPs, MD, FRCP (C), cardiologist, Montreal Heart Institute

Marie-Eve Mathieu, Ph. D., kinesiology, University of Montreal, researcher CHU Sainte-Justine

Dominick Gauthier, coach, co-founder of B2ten

WORLD MEDAL CANADIAN ATHLETES, CO-SIGNATORS OF THE LETTER

Jennifer Abel (dive), Jasey Jay Anderson (snowboard), Sylvie Bernier (dive), Alexandre bilodeau (freestyle skiing), Charlie Bilodeau (figure skating), Kim Boutin (speed skating), Alex Harvey (cross-country skiing), Pierre Harvey (cycling, cross-country skiing), Jennifer Heil (freestyle skiing), Mikaël Kingsbury (freestyle skiing), Marie-Hélène Premont (Mountain bike), Joannie Rochette (figure skating), Marianne St-Gelais (speed skating), Kim St-Pierre (hockey) and Antoine Valois-Fortier (judo)