Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

[Duncan Smith]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

Stil knowing NOTHING about Curling. Yet you have an opinion on it.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

and Volleyball, for example

Did you ever play volleyball? It is much more active and athletic than curling. :p

[Marcus Wilker]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

Curling easily meets the definition of getting young people into physical shape. This is one aspect you fail to understand. It might not be cross country running, but its not chess either. Somewhere in the middle. And I've participated and competed in almost every sport that exists at some point. In fact, for 75% of each team, Curling is more physically taxing then Baseball and Volleyball, for example. Are you going to argue that Baseball doesn't keep young people active ?

Look, its obvious from your posts that you NOTHING about Curling. Painfully obvious. You do no service to chess by trying to make these opinions.

I would indeed argue that baseball might not be the best sport for kids to play if you want to keep them active. I've seen too many little kids sitting down in the outfield picking grass.

And I doubt that curling is as physically taxing as volleyball. A lot of seniors, whom I can't imagine diving for a volleyball or jumping up to spike it, I could easily imagine enjoying curling - though I'm sure there are some active seniors who do play volleyball.

I don't doubt in the least that curling helps seniors "stay active." But there's a difference between a senior staying active and a young person getting into shape. If you're going to expand the definition to include "helping people stay active," I think chess could be recommended to seniors for similar reasons - though I think some seniors find weekend chess tournaments a bit too taxing.

[Duncan Smith]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

Regarding chess in the schools, I have no idea about the current numbers. However, I would say to you my sources told me that as of 3 years ago the interest was down from what we experienced in the late 1990s. I fail to see some sort of massive boom in chess in the schools locally. If it happens, well, good luck to you on this quest.

In the late 1990s, we ( and others ) brought dozens of new players into the system, actively promoting the game through word of mouth. However, as we progressed into CFC style chess venues, the politics/cheating/bad mouthing that existed turned me right off chess. I would never recommend chess to a young person now beyond the CMA style events which are great for some kids, some school teams, and possibly CYCC/WYCC for strong players. In fact, Curling is a much healthier alternative for young people wanting friendly competition.

To change this situation, chess has to clean up its act. So bad mouthng Curling ( for example ) doesn't help your cause, particularily because you supposably are one of the new leaders pushing chess ahead today.

[Duncan Smith]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

Curling easily meets the definition of getting young people into physical shape. This is one aspect you fail to understand. It might not be cross country running, but its not chess either. Somewhere in the middle. And I've participated and competed in almost every sport that exists at some point. In fact, for 75% of each team, Curling is more physically taxing then Baseball and Volleyball, for example. Are you going to argue that Baseball doesn't keep young people active ?

Look, its obvious from your posts that you NOTHING about Curling. Painfully obvious. You do no service to chess by trying to make these opinions.

[Marcus Wilker]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

Posting this kind of ignorant mindless crap, you might as well put a sign on your head that says "I'm stupid, please forgive me.". Honestly, there is no excuse for posting this kind of bs online.

Curling is most certainly a sport by every definition, including physical activity.
Many elite curlers today are involved in weight training and working out to greatly increase their chances of success in competition.

Over the last decade, I have come to expect that too many chess players are insular in nature and don't get out much and experience other things. This doesn't give you a free pass to post ignorance on the internet. Shame on you. Curling has roughly 500 times more participants in Canada then organized chess does. Perhaps they know something more then you do.

"then you do" - If you're handing out shame, take some shame for your own spelling!

But seriously, to spell things out for you, so it doesn't appear as "mindless bs" ...

A. (whether curling is a sport)
I wasn't arguing that curling wasn't a sport, but rather that I doubted it would meet your (or Jason's) definition (i.e., a sport is something that gets you into physical shape). This is evidence of a too-narrow definition of a category - when elements that everybody knows are part of the category don't fit the definition.

B. (regarding working out)
(1) You say "many" (but not all) curlers work out (even among the elite)? And you think I'm stupid for doubting that it's a great activity for getting young people into physical shape?
(2) Are you implying elite chess players don't work out? Or that it doesn't help them in competition when they do?

C. (regarding participation levels)
Do you know how many kids study chess as part of their curriculum or in after-school programs in Toronto? Do you think there is anything near that level of participation for curling? The times they are a-changing, my friend.

[Duncan Smith]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

Does curling satisfy your definition? Do you think Sport Canada should fund curling? It might help seniors stay active, but I don't see this activity helping kids "get into physical shape."

Posting this kind of ignorant mindless crap, you might as well put a sign on your head that says "I'm stupid, please forgive me.". Honestly, there is no excuse for posting this kind of bs online.

Curling is most certainly a sport by every definition, including physical activity.
Many elite curlers today are involved in weight training and working out to greatly increase their chances of success in competition.

Over the last decade, I have come to expect that too many chess players are insular in nature and don't get out much and experience other things. This doesn't give you a free pass to post ignorance on the internet. Shame on you. Curling has roughly 500 times more participants in Canada then organized chess does. Perhaps they know something more then you do.

[Kevin Me]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

IMHO, the blitz (5 or 3 with increment) should be accepted to Olympics no questions asked.

Trolololol

[Marcus Wilker]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

You are stretching the term 'physical activity' to suit your own purposes...
...Try as you might, you are not using the standard english definition of the term sport or physical activity. Play as much chess as you want, this won't get you into physical shape. Playing sports will.

Does curling satisfy your definition? Do you think Sport Canada should fund curling? It might help seniors stay active, but I don't see this activity helping kids "get into physical shape."

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

"Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure."

While it is possible to strike a puck in other ways, the stick movement by hands is the most general act :D
Thus, while it possible to execute moves in other ways, the hand movement is the most general act. etc

IMHO, the blitz (5 or 3 with increment) should be accepted to Olympics no questions asked.

[Jason Lohner]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

A definition which chess fits perfectly. The human brain is as physical as any muscle and thinking is, so far as science is concerned, a physical activity. Hard thinking, which is what chess involves, is certainly a physical exertion and also a skill. The human brain uses 20% of the energy we consume while weighing only about 3% of our bodies. Ounce for ounce the brain uses far more fuel and oxygen than any of our muscles.

You are stretching the term 'physical activity' to suit your own purposes...

WHO definition of Physical Activity

http://www.who.int/topics/physical_activity/en/

"Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure."

Try as you might, you are not using the standard english definition of the term sport or physical activity. Play as much chess as you want, this won't get you into physical shape. Playing sports will.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

The arguments I got involved in never got beyond the "heated debate" part. I don't recall any punch ups. I didn't want any trouble because we got the playing hall from the municipality.

The players were regulars and good guys. They simply got passionate over their games. :)

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

A team play. Chess is too individual game.
A fighting spirit. How many times have you fights after or during chess games :D

Our high school chess club gained three or four chess players when during the course of a heated political debate that was going on around a chess game the discussion led to a backhand to my face and an ensuing scrum and well executed hip throw that my judo sensei would have been proud of. The throw ended the fight, broke my opponent's glasses, probably knocked the wind out of him and took any fight that was left in him out of him. It incidentally resulted in a packed room for the next meeting after one of the kids from grade nine spread the word around that there might be more excitement than just chess.

At the 1976 Ontario high school championship one of the opponents of our team member was threatening him with a beating with the help of two other guys (presumably his friends or teammates) if he should happen to win. The threat was relayed to me as team captain and I approached the three and informed them that if there was going to be a fight with our team member that they would be fighting with more than one guy but to be sporting the three of them could start with me and if there was anything left for the rest of the team, they would clean up later. Our guy won the game. His opponent and friends cleared out of there very quickly. It was a good decision on their part.

[Lucas Davies]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

Who considers chess to be a sport? When someone says that they're playing or watching sports or whatever, would you EVER think that they mean chess? If you're going to call chess a sport, then you can basically say that any game is.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Chess recognized as a sport by Sport Canada

A fighting spirit. How many times have you fights after or during chess games :D

How much money are they playing for? :)

I used to step in once or twice a year with the speed chess games on Sunday when the debate got heated.

One time I went to a speed chess tournament on Queen's Quay, I think it was, back in the 60's. Didn't know anyone there. I beat one guy twice. He picked up his end of the table and dumped the pieces in my lap. I controlled myself and picked them up.