Mahjong might be listed as Winter Olympic demonstration event

People play mahjong in this file photo. [Photo/VCG]

An application has been made to list mahjong as a demonstration event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, The Paper reported on Tuesday.

"International Mind Sports Association is holding a discussion with Beijing relevant departments to apply to the International Olympic Committee for listing mind sports as indoor demonstration events at the Winter Olympic Games," Chen Zelan, president of IMSA, told The Paper in a recent interview.

IMSA announced in April that the traditional Chinese game mahjong, similar to the Western card game rummy, has officially become the sixth international mind sport after bridge, chess, Go, Chinese chess and draughts.

In terms of the feasibility of the application, Chen explained in the interview, "The IOC always thinks to expand participation in the Winter Olympics to countries without conditions to develop winter sports, so indoor demonstration events like mahjong are conducive to get more countries involved."

"Beijing, as the host city of the 2022 Winter Olympics, is able to propose new events," she added.

According to Chen, if the IMSA can reach a consensus with the IOC and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, mahjong is likely to be listed as an event at the Winter Olympics.

"It's not possible for mahjong to be listed in the Summer Olympics, as the Summer Olympic events have already been settled," Chen was quoted.

She also said bridge and chess have already been admitted by the IOC, which are more likely to be present at the Winter Olympics than mahjong.

Mahjong should standardize game rules to be a mind sport, José Damiani, the founder of IMSA, was quoted in The Paper's report.