The makers of the Beyblade spinning top battle game are subtly aiming for it to be recognized as an Olympic sport. According to designer Kenji Horikoshi in an interview with Metro, the creators at Takara Tomy view Beyblade as a “gear-assisted” sport similar to golf or skateboarding. Takara Tomy employees have humorously mentioned the idea of Beyblade becoming an Olympic sport, indicating a genuine desire for this to happen.
BEYBLADE GRAND FINALS RESET AT #CEOTAKU!!!https://t.co/df8sWgxtkx pic.twitter.com/r4CjiPT1OO
— CEOtaku (Dec 20-22) Reg Launching Soon (@CEOGaming) September 24, 2022
“Our mission here is to make sure we continue innovating and as the years progress, even without it being an Olympic sport, we just want to make sure people globally can have a chance to really appreciate and play with each other and have that competitive feel,” Horikoshi himself said.
Beyblade, which originated in 1999, involves two players launching spinning tops into an arena to determine the last top spinning. This simple yet engaging concept has been popularized through various anime adaptations, making it accessible even to young children. The customizable nature of Beyblades offers unexpected depth to these small toys. While there is a competitive scene with national tournaments and an upcoming international event in 2024, the potential for Beyblade to become an Olympic sport would bring the game to a whole new level.
