Bluffing for Britain?

	I think we can say we will bring more to the party than synchronised swimming

Barry Hearn, the sports impresario, is fronting an audacious bid to get poker into London’s 2012 Olympic Games. His plan involves a gargantuan global online qualifying tournament to produce national champions who will then meet at the final in London to decide the medals.

PokerMillion, Hearn’s online venture which is part of the largest European poker site, has been lined up to lead the charge to get poker in as a trial sport into the Olympics.

‘There are around five million online poker players; by 2012 that will double. The idea is that each participant pays $5 which is forwarded by the online companies directly into the Olympic movement.

‘Not only will that generate tens of millions for the development of the Olympic ideals in underdeveloped countries, but also shows the Olympic Committee is prepared to embrace technology which is changing the world.

‘What other sport can promise that?’ commented Hearn.

‘Honour and poker don’t usually go hand in hand,‘ he said, adding that ‘a collection of genuine sportsmen interested in the pure honour of winning a gold medal for their countries’ would mean the sport itself would also stand to gain.

Athletes of the baize

Plans are already advanced, explained Hearn: ‘I’ve spoken to most of the online companies and they’re 100% behind the idea and I’ll be making the application to the International Olympic Committee myself.’

Hearn remained tight-lipped about the details of the bid, but said he could ‘guarantee’ some new viewer-friendly features to the game to add extra razzmatazz. ‘I think we can say we will bring more to the party than synchronised swimming,’ he added.