Chess in the Olympics

[Neil Graham]

One of many on-line and newspaper reports:-

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ar-5872831

Vote now folks!

[MJMcCready]

I noted that on the BBC website they describe chess as a genteel game! Nice to see the BBC are well-informed as usual.

[Steven DuCharme]

I think chess-boxing should get a chance too

[Roger de Coverly]

I think chess-boxing should get a chance too

If you believe the periodic hype, it was a shoo-in.

[John Upham]

See here

[Clive Blackburn]

See here

The picture caption made me chuckle....

Eccentric Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

Yes ok, fair comment I suppose.

Not great for the image of the game though.

[NickFaulks]

I wonder which of his many hats Malcolm thinks he is wearing when he uses his Telegraph access in this way. His columns are reminiscent of the limitless "infomercials" allowed to Boris Johnson by the same paper.

[John Upham]

Which one(s) do you think he is wearing Nick?

I struggle to think of anyone who works harder for chess both commercially and non-commercially.

[David Sedgwick]

I wonder which of his many hats Malcolm thinks he is wearing when he uses his Telegraph access in this way. His columns are reminiscent of the limitless "infomercials" allowed to Boris Johnson by the same paper.

As you acknowledge, it is a column, not a news report. It seems pretty fair to me. Columns contain opinion.

I struggle to think of anyone who works harder for chess both commercially and non-commercially.

Hear. hear.

[NickFaulks]

]
As you acknowledge, it is a column, not a news report. It seems pretty fair to me. Columns contain opinion.

Malcolm's work for the Telegraph is as close to reporting of chess as the mainstream British press gets. I agree that it contains much that is opinion, but I don't think it is universally read in that way.

When lampooning Kirsan - and I don't say that is a bad thing to do, although after nearly twenty years it can get a bit boring - I don't know whether he is writing as a business rival, FIDE delegate or just as a journalist who knows what his editor likes.

[Steve Rooney]

]
As you acknowledge, it is a column, not a news report. It seems pretty fair to me. Columns contain opinion.

I don't know whether he is writing as a business rival, FIDE delegate or just as a journalist who knows what his editor likes.

... or whether he even wrote the caption. Even in today's streamlined media, there are still some surviving sub editors and web editors who will determine precisely how something reads on the page.

[NickFaulks]

... or whether he even wrote the caption.

I think that's a stretch. Even if he didn't choose the exact words, we know where the inspiration comes from.

[David Pardoe]

Chess is not a sport in the traditional sense...its a social/cultural pursuit...with considerable history and recreational, educational value.
I do think that such activities should get the same exemptions on tax etc as other non profit sports activities.
When I say `non profit`, for tax purposes, all minor prizes and moderate levels of so called profits/revenues, should be treated as non taxable, in my view.
All such activities need to raise funds to help grow and develop, and as such, provided they are not deemed to be obviously `money spinners`, they should be exempt in my book.
Unfortunately, many govs just seem to see these activities as easy targets for tax raising, instead of allowing them to thrive and encourage our sporting and cultural society.... ridiculously short sighted.
But equally, I think that chess bodies should do more to raise funds for future growth, and for `rainy days`, and not be so penny pinching.
Too many secretaries are too taken with just balancing the books....and don't seek to look to future opportunities, and the funds that might be usefully raised to drive progress.
Also, if chess was to be part of the Olympics, then why not other board games like Bridge, Back Gammon, Monopoly, etc..
I would not be against a Mind sports type of Olympics....it might encourage our youth and others to join up and participate in these valued social/cultural, creative activities.

[Stewart Reuben]

There is a World Mind Sports Games. I got to play in it (one blitz game) when representing England in Beijing in 2008. I led a team of 9 English players. The other games spread there were Go; Draughts, Chinese Chess and Shogi. WIM Natasha Regan respresented England at Go.

Bridge has the same status as chess in the IOC. Backgammon is a gambling game and, like poker, would be shunned. Monopoly and Scrabble are proprietory games and would not be considered by SportEngland.

[Mick Norris]

Chess misses out:

The eight shortlisted federations are: baseball/softball, bowling, karate, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, surfing and wushu.