What is a...sport?

Today, the Straits Times reported that in the recent budget meeting, those that are considered "sports" will be given funding.

Or something like that.

So, what is a...sport? Is it something which you have to endlessly run, chasing after balls of different kinds? Must you keep sweating when playing "sports"?

I was surprised to see that Chess probably isn't going to make the boat. Given that Chess is actually quite popular in Singapore, with a Chess Federation and competitions held regularly, I am surprised that Chess, including some such as Ice-skating and contract bridge is probably "going to miss the boat", as ST has put it.

To those who say Chess is boring, and that it requires no physical fitness at all, I say you are dead wrong. I'm not blaming you, because the word "chess" brings up to your mind about two old geezers playing in front of a board for hours moving blakc and white pieces about. True, no running around is needed, however, like games such as golf, the main muscle in use is the brain muscle. You need to be able to be sharp and alert after 4-5 hours of non-stop playing (something which I fail at constantly..), and need to decide where your opponent is going to strike. It's like soccer/netball/basketball. Anticapation, defense, offense. Only the difference is that I'm not running rounds on a court or something.

"This is subjective and ambigous. For example, shooting and bowling require physicial skill but no exertion" --Ivy Lim, Netball Singapore President.

>_>

Right, and do netballers play the game for 4-5 hours straight? It balances out, IMO.

If Chess isn't so difficult, then why is it included in the SEA/Olympic games? At some invitational opens, cash prices of millions of dollars are up for grabs. Compare that to the S League, where the top prize is a few hundred thousand. Heck, even the EPL don't give out that much. The EPL is stretched over almost a full year, and chess games can be over in a matter of weeks. It goes for most of the "non-sport" events. Ice skating isn't a sport..? Bowling..?

Contract bridge?

It's amusing that on the very next page, there's a golf report, saying that some guy got 1.4mil for winning a tournment. Singapore PE president said that it would be gross injustice for golf to be excluded. Is golf a game where you run around as well? Something which requires lots and lots of sweating? Or is it a single stroke, a birdy/eagle/par could mean 1 million, or more? So, when did sports come down to whether it has lots of exertion or not?

sport
n.

1.
1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
2. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
3. An active pastime; recreation.
4.
1. Mockery; jest: He made sport of his own looks.
2. An object of mockery, jest, or play: treated our interests as sport.
3. A joking mood or attitude: She made the remark in sport.
5.
1. One known for the manner of one's acceptance of rules, especially of a game, or of a difficult situation: a poor sport.
2. Informal. One who accepts rules or difficult situations well.
3. Informal. A pleasant companion: was a real sport during the trip.
6. Informal.
1. A person who lives a jolly, extravagant life.
2. A gambler at sporting events.
7. Biology. An organism that shows a marked change from the normal type or parent stock, typically as a result of mutation.
8. Maine. See summercater. See Regional Note at summercater.
9. Obsolete. Amorous dalliance; lovemaking.

From dictionary.com.

Seriously, I think this is a total joke. I think the journalist writting this article is also thinking this is kinda ridiculous. "May the wisdom of Solomon be upon those tasked with differentating sports "that require physical skill and exertion" from those that do not" Of course, I maybe wrong, but I feel that somethings, where the pressure is on the brain, and not on some leg muscles or arm muscles, should be considered sports. Personally, I find those who say that Chess Club is a "slacker" club, and that it's "boring" club being dead wrong. Activity between members are excellent, everyone joking around. Training till 7 on CCA days definately prove that we don't "slack", unlike some CCAs whose members appear just to chit-chat. Chess Club, to me, is a great place to be, and interaction is the main reason why I left Shooting/ARC. True, it probably had more now, but at that time, I didn't feel it at all.

I hope that Chess, if not most of the "non-sports" be considered. Physicial Skill and exertion is what makes a sport. Most of them have it. Some sports just isn't what people think. Darts is a pub game?

Seesh....