CHESS: how is this a sport??

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Sports recognized by the IOC.
(IOC = international olympic committee)

anyone ever pull a muscle taking an opponent's pawn?
you're sitting in a chair playing a board game.
where does athleticism come in handy?
IMO if chess is a sport, then so's monopoly...

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It's not a sport. Neither is poker, and that's all over ESPN now.

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Agreed! lol Over the years it seems like people have come to think "game" = "competition" = "sport".

I'm hoping the trend continues so I can have a shot at "Competitive Speed Reading" in the 2016 Olympics. Wink

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thumb-twiddling should be an olympic sport before chess...
(this thread doesn't belong in this forum -- my apologies!!)

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I always thought that pool was not a sport either. There are also some others that could be borderline, like bowling.

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Obviously nobody here is familiar with Chess on Ice, Water Chess or Mountain Chess.

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Here is the definition of sport according to dictionary.com:

a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
b. A particular form of this activity.
An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively. An active pastime; recreation.

You are right chess does not take much physical activity.

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Here is the etymology:

sport - c.1400, from Anglo-Fr. disport, from O.Fr. desport "pastime, recreation, pleasure," from desporter "to divert, amuse, please, play" (see disport). Meaning "game involving physical exercise" first recorded 1523. Sense of "stylish man" is from 1923. Verb meaning "to wear" is from 1778. Sportsmanship is from 1745.

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Well, it doesn't have a "kiss-and-cry" area, nor winners who cling to stuffed animals while they wait for their presentation marks, hearts a-twitter underneath their sequins -- so it's got one up on ice skating.

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Does anyone remember that Star Trek (original series) episode Plato's Stepchildren, where the inhabitants used their mental powers to force a dwarf to push around giant chess pieces when they wanted to play a game? Now that might be considered sport.

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Going "hogging," or "pig-sticking" with your friends can be defined as more of a sport. It can be played as a competition(i.e., who bangs the fattest pig), and is a very physical activity.

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Quote:

I always thought that pool was not a sport either. There are also some others that could be borderline, like bowling.

bowling -- definitely a sport. if there's a ball, and you're sore the next day, its a sport.
pool is probably a sport, because hand/eye coordination comes into play.
same for darts (which is a less sophisticated form of archery)...

what about auto racing? sport??

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How is nascar a sport? Was it Kramer vs. Kramer where the kid alleged that if Nascar was a sport videogames were?

I doubt it, but it was some kid in some movie.

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Hmm, auto racing. Might involve sweating. Involves pain or at least numbness. Major danger factor. Not performed indoors. I'd say it's a sport, but just barely.

Then again, if it wasn't a sport, there really wouldn't be a place to categorize it.

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Well, here in Europe, chess is a sport - with all what's needed for that: sponsors, spectators, leagues (here in Germany: 1rst Federal League, two second, state leagues ... down to county leagues) professionals and amateurs), reviews on sport pages, tv ...

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Do fights break out?

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jespah wrote:

Then again, if it wasn't a sport, there really wouldn't be a place to categorize it.

I think this is the main issue with most of these sorts of things. No one knows where to catagorize them so they throw them in with "sports". IMO, chess, poker, marbles, Monopoly, backgammon, etc.. aren't sports. They're games - but not sports.

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No, and there aren't no hooligans, too :wink:
(Well, sometimes in the club managements.)

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How about the Human Combat Chess? Is that a sport?

http://www.theyfight.net/photos/unarmed/lg/luis_choking_tasha.jpg

Human Combat Chess Game, Minnesota Reniassance Festival
Who: Captain Bartholomew Farrel (Luis Rosa) vs. "Unknown" (Tasha Hardy)
What's happening: The Captain of the Guard chokes the life out of his advisary.
Photo Provided by: Luis Rosa
Photographer: Unknown

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Has anyone here read Dan Simmons' Carrion Comfort? They played one wicked game of chess in that one!

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CHESS: how is this a sport??

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