Esports are still too violent to fit within Olympic values, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has said.
Bach reiterated his view that the expanding competitive gaming industry is not ready for Olympic inclusion, citing the continued prominence of "killer games." He spoke at the Asian Games, where six esports are being trialled as an exhibition event.
On behalf of the IOC, Bach said "so-called killer games" - where weapons are a key element - are "contradictory to the Olympic values and cannot therefore be accepted."
Fencing comparison put to Bach
Bach, 64, won team gold in fencing at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. When it was put to him that fencing originated from a form of military training, he said: "Of course 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."
Esports industry's scale
More than 300 million people worldwide are estimated to play or watch esports, and the industry is expected to be worth £1billion by 2020.
IOC talks continue despite doubts
Despite Bach's comments, the IOC and the Global Association of International Sports Federations held an esports forum earlier this summer. Esports will also be on the agenda at the next Olympic Summit, scheduled for December.
The main stakeholders in esports are thought to be working toward making the industry more focused on sport and positive values, and less on violent content, as part of their collaboration with the IOC.