The argument has long existed about whether or not certain competitions or games qualify as sporting events.
For example chess is considered by some to be a sport whilst others cite its lack of any real physical challenge as an affront to this assertion. The question of the World Series of Poker being a sporting event has also come up in recent years.
I have read many an anecdote about players attitudes regarding this question, in chess and poker events. In both categories participants have maintained that the physicality of these events come by way of endurance through physical fitness. They have also added that mental stress can affect one’s stamina and actual muscle strength.
It is an interesting question with good arguments on both sides. As far as I am concerned I will be happy to class these types of competitions as mind sports. However it must be said that these events can put just as much strain on the body as some other more typical sporting events.
This is a complex question, whether or not certain games are also sports. I have to agree that some tournaments can be considered sports, even though the actual physicality of the game is limited.
It gives one pause for thought…
Yes it does Mark. I have always leaned towards viewing mind games as sports. However I am now willing to categorize them as mind sports, or as one sub-category of the sporting category.
I’ve started to think that the word sport is somewhat archaic. It definitely needs an upgrade and that’s why we’re allowed to add a nice adjective in front of it to describe all the different types of games and sports that are out there today. The world has evolved from the time the word”sport” was created.
I agree. Sporting event are far removed, nowadays from the original Greek Olympics and Roman Gladitorial Games. I think that adding the sub-category of mind sports to the Sports category makes loads of sense.
I definitely think that board games require a great deal of physical and mental stamina. So, while I agree that it can be argued both ways, I believe that games such as chess are mind sports.
There’s even a Mind Sports Olympiad:
http://boardability.com/
I like the idea of a Mind Sports Olympic Games and I agree that there are valid points on on both sides of the argument.
Thank you for the comment!