You might think that bingo is predominantly the domain of grandmas and university students keen to win a bit of cash – but you’d be mistaken for doing so.

Why Britain's countryside is still unwelcoming for people of colourBecause the process of applying for certification from the International Olympic Committee has begun.

Yep, they say that bingo fulfills many of the criteria that are laid out for sports planning to join.


In a brazen PR stunt long-running campaign, Mecca Bingo asked more than 1,000 people were asked whether bingo should be recognised as an official sport in time for Tokyo 2020… and a whopping 95% said yes.



And now there’s an online petition to gather even more signatures.

Mecca Bingo’s Caroline Webb 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 bucket-load.

‘All of the factors that make for a great game of bingo are evident within the criteria set by the Committee and we are proud to continue our campaign, knowing we have the support of over 95% of Brits.’

In the past, bridge, chess and poker have all made similar attempts – citing the levels of concentration, dexterity and mental agility needed to succeed.

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So are we actually going hear ‘eyes down’ ring out across halls in Japan, come 2020?

Well, Mecca have already sent a letter of notification to the Olympic Committee and are planning to follow up on it…just as soon as this year’s games are over.

Having a large following in various countries around the world, and the fact that it’s both cheap and easy to play, mean that it is eligible for consideration.

And to celebrate this step towards their Olympic dream, the company has launched a series of sports-themed games.

These include ‘The Speedy Sprint’, ‘The Bingo Marathon’ and the ‘Triple Jump’ – where prizes can range from £25 to £20,000.

We’re not sure what bingo players would look like in Team GB colours.

But we’re sure the television spectacle would be fabulous.

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