Tetris Creators Want It in the Olympics

They dream of world connected by 'universal language' of game
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 13, 2009 1:53 PM CDT
Tetris Creators Want It in the Olympics
In this photo taken Friday, May 22, 2009, the puzzle video game Tetris is shown at Barcade in the Brooklyn section of New York.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, Tetris is still selling like wildfire, so you’d have to forgive the men behind it a little arrogance. Creator Alexey Pajitnov and Blue Planet CEO Henk Rogers want Tetris to be an Olympic sport, they told CNN, and no, they’re not joking when they describe a world united by the “universal language” of Tetris.

“Tetris breaks all culture, language and age and gender barriers,” gushed Rogers. “Tetris is the first virtual sport. And we’ll see a Tetris Cup in the future and international competition. Hopefully, we’ll be part of the Olympics someday.” When the interviewer seemed incredulous, he replied, “Why limit the Olympics to physical sports? Why not mental sports?” (More Tetris stories.)

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