SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Bingo giant Mecca Bingo has announced that it has formally applied for bingo to
become an olympic sport with the International Olympic Committee.
The aim is that it is included in the 2020 summer Olympic Games taking place in Tokyo, Japan.
Despite today’s date this is no April Fool’s and you can check out the campaign, and even give your backing, by visiting the site here.
Within its letter, Mecca Bingo has reportedly argued that the alertness, dexterity, observational skills and good sportsmanship required to play the game make it the perfect candidate to be recognised as a sport.
It was also argued that bingo fulfils many of the other criteria laid out by the Olympic Committee when considering new games for inclusion, including popularity in a large number of regions across the world, affordability in terms of practising and playing the game, as well as having a set of easy to understand rules.
Mecca Bingo’s Lesly Clifford said: “Successful bingo playing requires a steady hand, intense concentration and mental agility; three attributes that most athletes are keen to possess and that our members have by the bucketload. All of the factors which make for a great game of bingo are evident within the criteria set by the committee and we are proud to launch this campaign today.”
She continued: “We’ll be working hard to demonstrate that the beloved British game of bingo is an ideal addition to the roster of sports set to be played at the next games. Our members and I’m sure many other bingo fans will all be crossing everything that this campaign is a full house success and that we hear cries of ‘eyes down’ when the Olympics lands in Tokyo in 2020.”
