Rob2012 Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Just reading the snooker and billiards thread and it strikes me just how woolly the definition of 'sport' is and how difficult it is to draw the line between what is and what isn't a sport. I mean, it's fairly obvious that things like team sports, and T&F are sports. But what about darts, snooker - which don't require peak physical fitness but do require huge skill and control? What about equestrian - should the horses get more credit? And motorsport which requires huge levels of fitness at the top level and physical skill. but which is so dependent on the engineering to decide who wins and who doesn't? Are some of these NOT sports, or are they less 'pure' sports, or are they sports just like everything else? What about sports with subjective scoring systems - dance 'sports'? Do we consider these less 'pure' a sport than something that can be measured in hundredths of a second objectively like in T&F? And then we come to a really tricky one: e-sports. As motion sensor technology matures the line is going to blur whether we like it or not. But would you ever consider them sports? Basically, where do you draw the line and why? And a seperate question, assuming hosts have an infintely large budget and an infinitely large Olympic village, would you ever draw a line between what should and shouldn't be an Olympic sport? Just curious to see what people think..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMarkSnow2012 Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Just reading the snooker and billiards thread and it strikes me just how woolly the definition of 'sport' is and how difficult it is to draw the line between what is and what isn't a sport. I mean, it's fairly obvious that things like team sports, and T&F are sports. But what about darts, snooker - which don't require peak physical fitness but do require huge skill and control? What about equestrian - should the horses get more credit? And motorsport which requires huge levels of fitness at the top level and physical skill. but which is so dependent on the engineering to decide who wins and who doesn't? Are some of these NOT sports, or are they less 'pure' sports, or are they sports just like everything else? Maybe it would be easiest to define what types of sport would be eligible for inclusion in particular tournaments. Organisation of Olympics, for example, would be somewhat streamlined by excluding sports where the main power source was not the human body (obviously motor racing, but also sailing ....). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zekekelso Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 There is no clear definition. But you know it when you see it. And each person sees it differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woohooitsme83 Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 sport spôrt/ noun 1. an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. "team sports such as baseball and soccer" Kinda vague, but yeah. I think the real issue is determining whether it would be a sport or Olympic sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted February 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 There is no clear definition. But you know it when you see it. And each person sees it differently. Well yes, I'm not looking for definitive answers, just opinions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Personally, any one can call whatever diversion they indulge in a sport. This SPortin' Life, eh?? But if we're talking Olympics, then -- if I were to write the criteria: - has to be codified. There has to int'll accepted rules and a body to oversee the sport. - Played in X number of countries, in X no. of continents, etc., etc. - should be photogenic; - should be able to attract a "live" crowd of at least 7-8,000; and - has to be approved by me!! But seriously, even in, say Ballroom Dancing, there are also exceptions -- like, and my bro is an Argentine tango enthusiast. There are, when we last spoke on the subject like 2 years ago -- int'l codes for what is supreme or world's best in Argentine tango. THere are many schools and styles, so without a specific code or set of criteria, then it cannot become competitive and thus be considered a sport (yet). The IOC does a pretty good job of delineating what should get on the Olympic slates...and their primary demarcation of there must be NO motor-driven activity. There are implements like bikes, boats and guns -- but for the most part, their handling and performance are directed by human effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zekekelso Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 There are implements like bikes, boats and guns -- Would you approve some sort of combo... like skeet shooting with boat jumping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorchbearerSydney Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 A sport is something that can be organised into a Federation so petty royals, dictators and corporations can swan around the world at other peoples expense, put on over-the top-ceremonies and championships, and add titles to their names. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 Put on over-the top-ceremonies and championships, and add titles to their names. /\/\ That's a very important criterion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jiejie Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Well, I was always told that the difference between a sport and a game is the Beer Test. If you can do the activity and drink a beer at the same time, it's a game. If you can't do both simultaneously, it's a sport. Works for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox334 Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Well, I was always told that the difference between a sport and a game is the Beer Test. If you can do the activity and drink a beer at the same time, it's a game. If you can't do both simultaneously, it's a sport. Works for me! By that test athletics isn't a sport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woohooitsme83 Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 ^at the same time, dude, not 'doing while you're totally wasted.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zekekelso Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 So you are saying coed IM softball isn't a sport?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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