There’s an ongoing debate on whether or not card games
should be considered as sport. If the common connotation of sport – that is
physical exertion in an outdoor setting – is to be factored in, then the debate
is won by antagonists.
Definition of “sport”
As per the Merriam-Webster dictionary, sport is defined
as “a source of diversion” and “physical activity engaged in for pleasure”. Both
descriptions fit poker perfectly. We play poker to distract ourselves and
escape temporarily from the real world, while sitting at the table and focusing
on the dealt cards is a form of physical activity, at least for the brain. If
chess is classified as a sedentary sport, then maybe poker should be as well.
Criteria
SportAccord, the association representing the world’s largest
international sports federations, has come up with criteria necessary to
identify a sport: it must have an element of competition, not harmful to any
living creature, not relying on equipment provided by a single supplier, and not
relying on any “luck” element specifically designed into the sport.
Although there is some degree of luck involved, poker
is still a game of strategy and quick thinking. There is also a great deal of
courage involved, especially when the stakes are high. All told, poker is no different from any
other sport. There are winners and losers. There are tactics and execution.
Many poker players – professionals and amateurs serious about getting into the
sport – even have their own poker tables at home.
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