PARIS — “IOC: Games at Risk Without Young Fans and Competitors”, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated on Tuesday that incorporating new sports and creating visually stunning, urban venues are crucial for drawing younger audiences and ensuring the survival of the Olympic Games. The IOC emphasized that adapting to contemporary interests and aesthetics is key to maintaining the Games’ relevance and appeal in the modern era.
The IOC overhauled the process of adding sports to the Games a few years ago, getting rid of a seven-year wait period, and introduced a number of new sports for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, including surfing, sport climbing and skateboarding.
Paris Games organisers kept all three and added breakdancing to try to engage a younger audience and also open up new opportunities for sponsors and broadcasters.
“If we don’t get young people playing sport, we won’t be here for very much longer,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said.
“We have to attract young audiences and go where they are… we have to attract young people to sport or we are dead, basically.”
The IOC has recently signed a 12-year deal with Saudi Arabia to host the esports Olympic Games, aiming to engage younger audiences and eventually draw them to the traditional Olympics.
