- Joined
- 18 Jan 07
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- 12469
17 Mar 22
@vivify saidI'd take the other criteria.
Chess and poker are both considered sports and are even featured on ESPN. Chess and poker players are considered "athletes".
Should this change? Perhaps the term "sport" should be reserved for events that require physical skill or exertion of some kind?
A sport is something that
a. does not depend significantly on luck
b. has an objective way to determine the winner.
This means poker doesn't count under a., and figure skating doesn't count under b., but chess does.
17 Mar 22
@shallow-blue saidI doubt there's anyone who'd agree Olympic gymnastics is not a sport just because there are judges.
I'd take the other criteria.
A sport is something that
a. does not depend significantly on luck
b. has an objective way to determine the winner.
This means poker doesn't count under a., and figure skating doesn't count under b., but chess does.
You could argue judges in such sports are supposed to use objective criteria in their scores, and not subjective opinions, which would then fit your criteria.
Your definition would also make checkers a sport.
I wonder what criteria ESPN uses, since they consider poker a sport:
https://www.espn.com/espn/magazine/archives/news/story?page=magazine-20091102-article21
20 Mar 22
@vivify saidThe debate about what is a sport and what is a pastime has been going on for years so I doubt we'll reach any agreement on here.
Chess and poker are both considered sports and are even featured on ESPN. Chess and poker players are considered "athletes".
Should this change? Perhaps the term "sport" should be reserved for events that require physical skill or exertion of some kind?
Personally,I've always considered a sport to be an activity that requires physical effort so I wouldn't include shuffleboard or bar billiards for example.
Snooker is widely regarded as a sport as is crown green bowls which I play but I think both of these are "borderline" sports shall we say.
I stress that these are only my opinions and accept that others will disagree.
- Joined
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25 Apr 22
@vivify saidYeah, and what about
Chess and poker are both considered sports and are even featured on ESPN. Chess and poker players are considered "athletes".
Should this change? Perhaps the term "sport" should be reserved for events that require physical skill or exertion of some kind?
female mud wrestling?