...is not a sport, and does not belong in the Olympics. Discuss.

why isnt it a sport?

Would you consider figure skating a sport?

How about bowling? Ballroom dancing?

It seems to me synchronized swimming would be pretty difficult to do

figure skating & ball room dancing - also not sports.

is bowling in the Olypmics.

Knitting is difficult, but I don't consider it a sport either.

For that matter, why include any judged sports in the Olympics? They include some fantastic athletes, but the lack of an objective winner make them more talent show than sport.

See http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/josh_elliott/08/25/blog/index.html?cnn=yes

sorry, i just threw bowling out there...

Why arent they sports?

Is equestrian not a sport?

There's a line between art and sport. These "athletes" are judged by doing something because it looks good or is interesting. Additionally, a lot of their score is based on the opinion of other people. I'm not dissing what they do, it's just not sport. Equestrian is borderline, but I'll go with sport. The horse should be the one getting the medal though.

So is diving a sport?

They get the majority of their points because of form...

Or how about certain events in Gymnastics?

I would argue that syncro swimming is a sport...

It requires a good deal of athletisicsm and has a good degree of difficulty

synchronized swimming, diving, gymanstics, figure skating etc. are not sports, they are events in which you are competing to see who can influence someones opinon the most. there is no objective winner. No one is doubting the athleticism necessary for these events, just look at the crazy stuff they can do.

With that arguement, then you could almost say football is not a sport. Officials judge what the players do and whether it is illegal or not. Yes, it is athletic, but it is also somewhat of a judgement game.

how about baseball then?

The pitcher is trying to influence the umpire into calling strikes...

To influence the umpire requires accuracy, athletisiscm and skill...

Aren't those the same traits required by gymnasts, swimmers and skaters?

How about skiing? Is that a sport, since you are trying to influence a judge to give you the best score?

The question is, what is sport? What is the one definition that encompasses everything that people athleticaly compete in?

In football, you get points by out playing the other team and crossing the goal line with the ball or kicking through the uprights while the opposing team tries to stop you. You don't see judges at the goal line raising cards to determine how much your touchdown is worth. There are definative rules for how a score is achieved.

On a side note, it would be cool if the defense could gain extra points for their team with the hits they lay on people. It would be funny to see the refs raising scoring cards when a DB lays a hit on a wide reciever that turns him end over end.

Some people don't consider NASCAR a sport, but in the end, there is still a winner based on who was the best driver.

All of these except maybe bowling and nascar require great athletic skill.

I propose that someone should invent a new word that encompasses athletic contests that are judged subjectively. I think that would solve a lot of the problem.

Also, bowling I would consider a "game."

Well I believe they are called the Olympic Games, so what does being a sport have to do with anything?

Jim

Didn't think about it like that, Jim.

In my mental dictionary (I've not looked these words up), it goes like this:

Sports (or games) are activities we engage in for recreation and/or pleasure.

Different sports (or games) require various and varying amounts of skill and/or athleticism.

If determining a winner is involved, sports (or games) become contests and require scoring.

Football games or board games, aquatic sports, visiting the gaming tables in Nevada or, for that matter, a sporting house in that same state are all activities (sports, games) done for recreation/pleasure, at differing levels of skill and/or athleticism.

We sometimes choose to use the word "sports" to describe "games" that take more skill or athleticism to play (or play well), but the worldwide celebration of skill and athleticism currently taking place in Athens is called the Olympic Games.

And I consider all the games being contested there to be sports.

That's how I see it.





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