4 ms·

Are we calling chess a sport?

stonemetal12 4y ago
They started playing it online so now it is an esport. /s
freetime2 4y ago
I had the same thought. I don't have a particularly strong opinion about whether chess players should be called athletes or not, but this was the first time that I had ever seen chess players referred to as athletes. The first result when you google "Are chess players athletes" says no [1], but I realize that this is more of an opinion piece. I would be curious to hear what more members of the competitive chess community think of the designation as athletes. Edit: Upon further googling, I have learned that the IOC recognizes chess as a sport. Reading up further on how the matches last for 7+ hours, and how important physical conditioning is, I think it's totally valid to refer to chess players as athletes. In different sports there is wide spectrum of physical and mental demands - and I think chess just falls on the incredibly-demanding-mentally-but-less-demanding-physically end of the spectrum. [1] https://herculeschess.com/are-chess-players-athletes/ https://herculeschess.com/are-chess-players-athletes/ [2] https://olympics.com/ioc/recognised-international-federations https://olympics.com/ioc/recognised-international-federation...
adamckay 4y ago
Yes. It's recognised by the International Olympic Committee - https://olympics.com/ioc/recognised-international-federations https://olympics.com/ioc/recognised-international-federation... A common definition is: "Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport
- yucky 4y ago
  Key word being "physical" though, right? I wouldn't consider poker players or tetris players athletes.
WalterBright 4y ago
When I was in high school in the 70s, the school decided that chess was a sport and you could letter in it. One of the chess players took it to heart, got a letter jacket, put his chess letter on it, and wore it every day. I don't think it worked for him.

They started playing it online so now it is an esport. /s

I had the same thought. I don't have a particularly strong opinion about whether chess players should be called athletes or not, but this was the first time that I had ever seen chess players referred to as athletes. The first result when you google "Are chess players athletes" says no [1], but I realize that this is more of an opinion piece. I would be curious to hear what more members of the competitive chess community think of the designation as athletes. Edit: Upon further googling, I have learned that the IOC recognizes chess as a sport. Reading up further on how the matches last for 7+ hours, and how important physical conditioning is, I think it's totally valid to refer to chess players as athletes. In different sports there is wide spectrum of physical and mental demands - and I think chess just falls on the incredibly-demanding-mentally-but-less-demanding-physically end of the spectrum. [1] https://herculeschess.com/are-chess-players-athletes/ https://herculeschess.com/are-chess-players-athletes/ [2] https://olympics.com/ioc/recognised-international-federations https://olympics.com/ioc/recognised-international-federation...

adamckay 4y ago

Yes. It's recognised by the International Olympic Committee - https://olympics.com/ioc/recognised-international-federations https://olympics.com/ioc/recognised-international-federation... A common definition is: "Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport

yucky 4y ago
Key word being "physical" though, right? I wouldn't consider poker players or tetris players athletes.

WalterBright 4y ago

When I was in high school in the 70s, the school decided that chess was a sport and you could letter in it. One of the chess players took it to heart, got a letter jacket, put his chess letter on it, and wore it every day. I don't think it worked for him.