Chess not a sport in Norway

[Roger de Coverly]

If the translations can be believed, the Norwegian chess federation are declining an invite to apply for sports recognition.
http://www.aftenposten.no/100Sport/sjak ... 7009_1.snd
and
http://www.aftenposten.no/100Sport/sjak ... 469422_1.s

The key point was that extremely restrictive rules would have been applied to the participation of young players in both national and international events. The net effect would have been that Carlsen and younger potential stars such as Aryan Tari would not have gained any experience against strong opposition.

Whilst I don't think UK rules on child participation are anything like as restrictive as Norwegian ones are claimed to be, it is an issue that advocates of Chess as a Sport should consider, namely that being a sport brings unwelcome baggage.

[Stewart Reuben]

While chess received support from the government, there were generally arguments against the advantages of chess being recognised by SportEngland. Now there is no downside of which I am aware.
Just take the matter of VAT and Roger's favourite form of taxation, ECF membership or, for that matter, game fee. That is liable to VAT at 20%. Were chess a sport, it would be zero.

[Roger de Coverly]

Now there is no downside of which I am aware.

FIDE seemed to have reduced anti-doping to play acting. But what if they or someone else started taking it seriously?

As for other downsides, the ECF has put itself in the hands of the Sport and Recreation Alliance. One of their requirements appears that you should appoint a non-Executive director who knows nothing of chess.

http://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/si ... ersion.pdf

Generally speaking to be truly ‘independent’ in our sector, the Board member should not be a participant, a previous participant or have held any roles involved within the sport, recreation or activity. Such individuals are often found from industry or other sectors completely unrelated to the activity or organisation.

[Stewart Reuben]

If you had a rule whereby you never associated with an organisation that had a ridiculous rule, the only way would be not to associate with anything at all.
The ECF is not 'in the hands' of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

[Roger de Coverly]

The ECF is not 'in the hands' of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

That depends on what actions they take. They have more influence on the affairs of the ECF on the 17th September, than they did on the 16th.

http://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/ne ... governance

The Sport and Recreation Alliance will be helping to recruit working party members.