Why Mario and Sonic aren't at the Paris Olympics

They're probably the most noticeable absentees from the Paris Olympics - yes, we're talking about Mario and Sonic.

The duo and their friends (and foes) have been a feature of every Olympic Games since Beijing in 2008 with their very own video game, dedicated to the event.

But fans were stunned when executive producer of the franchise, Lee Cocker, revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that Mario and Sonic at Paris 2024 was never on the cards