(Yicai Global) Aug. 3 -- International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) is negotiating with the organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games about incorporating Mahjong, A Chinese tile-based game, and other mind sports into the indoor sports events of the Olympic Games to be held in Beijing in 2022, said Chen Zelan, IMSA chairman, when responding to questions from reporters.

IMSA is now applying to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the incorporation of mind sports like Mahjong into indoor demonstration sports of Winter Olympic Games, reported The Paper on Aug. 1, citing Chen.

Last April, IMSA formally announced that it would incorporate Mahjong, a representative of China's traditional chess and card cultures and a game of skill, strategy, and calculation, which also involves a degree of chance, into the list of international mind sports events. If approved, it would make mahjong sixth international mind sports event following bridge, chess, go, Chinese chess, and draughts.

Mahjong game introduces the idea of duplicate bridge. The same position of different table-boards will see totally same mahjong tiles to achieve lateral comparison. The player who plays best with same mahjong tiles will be the winner.

Chen also said that, since the IOC recognizes bridge and chess as sports events, these two games are more likely to be represented in the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, IMSA will strive for the recognition of more mind sports.