Mon Jul 30, 2012, 12:11 AM

Zalatix (8,994 posts)

Should Chess become an olympic sport?

Timed matches, touchy-movey, that sorta thing?

I think it's time to create an entire academic competition and roll it into the Olympics. Bring in the sponsors and medals and big time name recognition.

What could possibly make this a bad idea?

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65 replies	Author	Time	Post
Should Chess become an olympic sport? (Original post)	Zalatix	Jul 2012	OP
Yes! I would love that.	cthulu2016	Jul 2012	#1
I'm in favor of anything	TlalocW	Jul 2012	#2
Maybe chess boxing.	rad51	Jul 2012	#3
+1	Motown_Johnny	Jul 2012	#50
Sure, it has a lot in common with other sports...	PoliticAverse	Jul 2012	#4
Team Rhythmic Synchronized Chess Dance	jberryhill	Jul 2012	#5
As long as they include prancing horses	RedStateLiberal	Jul 2012	#6
Hell no. The Olympics are boring enough as it is without dragging chess into it.	limpyhobbler	Jul 2012	#7
Hungary beat Thirstary in the world championship last year	jberryhill	Jul 2012	#9
Hey, screw you, buddy.	Arkana	Jul 2012	#64
maybe they should start an olympics for things like chess , card games etc .	JI7	Jul 2012	#8
They tried playing Uno	jberryhill	Jul 2012	#10
They call it "Life". n/t	boppers	Jul 2012	#14
Only if the pieces are so big body builders have to move them.	Kablooie	Jul 2012	#11
You do realize the Russians would dominate this sport?	HubertHeaver	Jul 2012	#12
And this hypothetical outcome matters, why?	boppers	Jul 2012	#15
It doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things,	HubertHeaver	Jul 2012	#20
That's not a genetically programmed given.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#17
Not genetically programmed	HubertHeaver	Jul 2012	#21
Water polo, badminton, and synchronized swimming, are all Olympic "sports".	boppers	Jul 2012	#22
It would add to the absurdity.	HubertHeaver	Jul 2012	#23
They watch water polo.	boppers	Jul 2012	#24
Oh, and for that matter, they watch american football.	boppers	Jul 2012	#25
Wow, I've watched chess matches and I played for my high school, too.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#29
Were you around for Fisher v. Spasky?	cthulu2016	Jul 2012	#41
What's absurd about water polo or badminton?	muriel_volestrangler	Jul 2012	#28
Yup, and all of those are Olympic "sports".	boppers	Jul 2012	#44
What is absurd? And why are you using quotes around the word sports?	muriel_volestrangler	Jul 2012	#60
Or IBM would	cthulu2016	Jul 2012	#40
The Russians are very strong but they have lots of competition these days.	entanglement	Jul 2012	#49
YES!	burrowowl	Jul 2012	#13
Then you'd have to add bridge and poker	eridani	Jul 2012	#16
A "duplicate poker" tournament would be interesting	cthulu2016	Jul 2012	#43
Only if it's Secret Agent Laser Optical Chess	pokerfan	Jul 2012	#18
No. n/t	ellisonz	Jul 2012	#19
There is already a chess Olympiad	TomClash	Jul 2012	#26
Knight takes queen. Bishop takes queen. King takes queen.	GodlessBiker	Jul 2012	#27
there already IS a chess Olympics	flyingfysh	Jul 2012	#30
Oh, so computers can take over for the Chess Olympians?	Capt. Obvious	Jul 2012	#31
No. It is a game, not a sport.	Warren Stupidity	Jul 2012	#32
They DO have chess Olympics, for over 80 years now.	edbermac	Jul 2012	#33
I am talking about it being an official part of the Summer or Winter Olympics.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#45
Chess is not a sport, it's a game.	OneTenthofOnePercent	Jul 2012	#34
basketball is a game	Confusious	Jul 2012	#57
As long as it is combined with	whistler162	Jul 2012	#35
it may start filling the seats	Sea-Dog	Jul 2012	#36
No.	HappyMe	Jul 2012	#37
The board side commentary from Bob Costas	randr	Jul 2012	#38
only if you shoot the pieces with an air rifle	Johonny	Jul 2012	#39
I doubt they could get Budweiser to sponsor that.	HopeHoops	Jul 2012	#42
Yes, if huffing and puffing become a sport.	Zanzoobar	Jul 2012	#46
YES	madinmaryland	Jul 2012	#47
The DU Chess Master will be checking in shortly to give his opinion...	madinmaryland	Jul 2012	#48
Sure..why not...	lib2DaBone	Jul 2012	#51
Yes.	chollybocker	Jul 2012	#52
Only if it's played with swords and maces	Speck Tater	Jul 2012	#53
is a board game a sport? dunno	spanone	Jul 2012	#54
Why not beach chess featuring young women in skimpy bikinis?	tularetom	Jul 2012	#55
Or dudes.	chollybocker	Jul 2012	#56
Chess players are against it	Jack Rabbit	Jul 2012	#58
World of Warcraft might be a better choice for this generation.	Peepsite	Jul 2012	#59
only if they then too appreciate the athleticism of Hungry Hungry Hippos and Tiddly Winks	NuttyFluffers	Jul 2012	#61
Good idea...	pinboy3niner	Jul 2012	#62
Bad idea.	guardian	Jul 2012	#63
I love to play chess and I'm reasonably good, but it's a game, not a sport.	badtoworse	Jul 2012	#65

Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 12:13 AM

cthulu2016 (10,960 posts)

1. Yes! I would love that.

Reply to this post

Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 12:15 AM

TlalocW (15,113 posts)

2. I'm in favor of anything

That will destroy the Olympics and the expectation that I have to pretend every 4 years that winning the pole vault somehow brings glory to the country.

TlalocW

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 12:16 AM

rad51 (89 posts)

3. Maybe chess boxing.

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Response to rad51 (Reply #3)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 11:15 PM

Motown_Johnny (22,308 posts)

50. +1

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 12:18 AM

PoliticAverse (26,366 posts)

4. Sure, it has a lot in common with other sports...

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 12:37 AM

jberryhill (62,444 posts)

5. Team Rhythmic Synchronized Chess Dance

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 01:57 AM

RedStateLiberal (1,374 posts)

6. As long as they include prancing horses

and they call it Chessage.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 01:57 AM

limpyhobbler (8,244 posts)

7. Hell no. The Olympics are boring enough as it is without dragging chess into it.

The only board game that belongs in the olympics is Hungry Hungry Hippos.

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Response to limpyhobbler (Reply #7)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 02:28 AM

jberryhill (62,444 posts)

9. Hungary beat Thirstary in the world championship last year

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Response to limpyhobbler (Reply #7)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 09:35 AM

Arkana (24,347 posts)

64. Hey, screw you, buddy.

Connect Four all the way.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 02:04 AM

JI7 (88,268 posts)

8. maybe they should start an olympics for things like chess , card games etc .

things that rely more on metal than physical ability.

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Response to JI7 (Reply #8)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 02:29 AM

jberryhill (62,444 posts)

10. They tried playing Uno

But cancelled the event after accusations that the Mexican team was stealing all the green cards.

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Response to JI7 (Reply #8)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 03:11 AM

boppers (16,588 posts)

14. They call it "Life". n/t

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 02:35 AM

Kablooie (18,329 posts)

11. Only if the pieces are so big body builders have to move them.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 03:05 AM

HubertHeaver (2,514 posts)

12. You do realize the Russians would dominate this sport?

Reply to this post

Response to HubertHeaver (Reply #12)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 03:12 AM

boppers (16,588 posts)

15. And this hypothetical outcome matters, why?

How are the Jamaican bobsled teams doing these days?

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Response to boppers (Reply #15)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 05:04 AM

HubertHeaver (2,514 posts)

20. It doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things,

its merely a given. The USA has 2 players ranked in the top 20 in July of 2012, Russia has 7 players.

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Response to HubertHeaver (Reply #12)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 03:33 AM

Zalatix (8,994 posts)

17. That's not a genetically programmed given.

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Response to Zalatix (Reply #17)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 05:06 AM

HubertHeaver (2,514 posts)

21. Not genetically programmed

But it is a window on what is valued by a society.

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Response to HubertHeaver (Reply #21)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 05:26 AM

boppers (16,588 posts)

22. Water polo, badminton, and synchronized swimming, are all Olympic "sports".

Chess wouldn't change much of the absurdity.

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Response to boppers (Reply #22)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 05:39 AM

HubertHeaver (2,514 posts)

23. It would add to the absurdity.

Can you imagine the US announcers trying to explain chess? Further absurdity, can you imagine a US audience watching a chess match?

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Response to HubertHeaver (Reply #23)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 05:42 AM

boppers (16,588 posts)

24. They watch water polo.

Volleyball, too.

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Response to HubertHeaver (Reply #23)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 05:46 AM

boppers (16,588 posts)

25. Oh, and for that matter, they watch american football.

"Men with lots of padding run around, but also take lots of breaks, centered around moving a ball only a few 'yards' at a time".

Americans also watch singing and dancing contests, and "vote".

Weird culture.

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Response to HubertHeaver (Reply #23)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 07:10 AM

Zalatix (8,994 posts)

29. Wow, I've watched chess matches and I played for my high school, too.

It didn't seem all that hard to follow for me.

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Response to HubertHeaver (Reply #23)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:22 AM

cthulu2016 (10,960 posts)

41. Were you around for Fisher v. Spasky?

lyric from the musical CHESS (sung by the merchandizers)

When you get up --
When you get up in the morning
Till you crash at night
You will have to live your life
With bishop, rook and knight
Clean your teeth with chequered toothpaste
Wear our vests
Our kings and queens on bouncing breasts
You could even buy a set
And learn to play
We don't mind we'll sell you something
Anyway

We've done all our market research
And our findings show
That this game of chess could be around
A month or so
Maybe it's a bit confusing
For a game
But Rubik's Cubes were much the same
In the end the whole world bought one
All were gone
By which time we merchandisers
Had moved on

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Response to boppers (Reply #22)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 06:16 AM

muriel_volestrangler (100,035 posts)

28. What's absurd about water polo or badminton?

I agree synchronized swimming is a problem - it depends too much on artistic interpretation, and subjective judging. But badminton is no more 'absurd' as a sport than tennis, or water polo than basketball.

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Response to muriel_volestrangler (Reply #28)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:21 PM

boppers (16,588 posts)

44. Yup, and all of those are Olympic "sports".

You have exemplified my point.

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Response to boppers (Reply #44)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 04:53 AM

muriel_volestrangler (100,035 posts)

60. What is absurd? And why are you using quotes around the word sports?

I don't think I've exemplified your point at all.

As far as I can make out your point now, it's that all sports, competitions and games are always absurd. Is that it? If so, you need to try to make your case, rather than just calling any contest 'absurd' or 'bizarre'. Given that competition seems to be an intrinsic part of being not just a human, but for many other mammals too, and many cultures independently develop the ideas of games with formal rules, you need to have some kind of reasoning for why this basic human behaviour is 'absurd'.

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Response to HubertHeaver (Reply #12)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:21 AM

cthulu2016 (10,960 posts)

40. Or IBM would

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Response to HubertHeaver (Reply #12)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:48 PM

entanglement (3,615 posts)

49. The Russians are very strong but they have lots of competition these days.

The 2012 World Chess Championship was a face-off between an Israeli and an Indian. A Norwegian is currently ranked world #1.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 03:11 AM

burrowowl (17,236 posts)

13. YES!

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 03:21 AM

eridani (51,907 posts)

16. Then you'd have to add bridge and poker

Aces! Aces! Back to back!
Fill that straight with a one-eyed jack!
PLAAYYYY poker!

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Response to eridani (Reply #16)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:42 AM

cthulu2016 (10,960 posts)

43. A "duplicate poker" tournament would be interesting

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 03:36 AM

pokerfan (27,677 posts)

18. Only if it's Secret Agent Laser Optical Chess

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 04:47 AM

ellisonz (27,458 posts)

19. No. n/t

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 06:00 AM

TomClash (11,344 posts)

26. There is already a chess Olympiad

The 2012 Olympiad will be held in Istanbul.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 06:13 AM

GodlessBiker (6,314 posts)

27. Knight takes queen. Bishop takes queen. King takes queen.

Gangbang!

(History of the World, Part I)

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 07:13 AM

flyingfysh (1,990 posts)

30. there already IS a chess Olympics

Look it up on Wikipedia.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 07:15 AM

Capt. Obvious (9,002 posts)

31. Oh, so computers can take over for the Chess Olympians?

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 07:29 AM

Warren Stupidity (48,181 posts)

32. No. It is a game, not a sport.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 08:25 AM

edbermac (15,788 posts)

33. They DO have chess Olympics, for over 80 years now.

Last one was the 39th 2010 in Khanty-Mansiysk, they're held every 2 years.

Ukraine won the men's gold medal, Russia for the women.

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Response to edbermac (Reply #33)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:37 PM

Zalatix (8,994 posts)

45. I am talking about it being an official part of the Summer or Winter Olympics.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 08:34 AM

OneTenthofOnePercent (6,268 posts)

34. Chess is not a sport, it's a game.

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Response to OneTenthofOnePercent (Reply #34)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 12:12 AM

Confusious (8,317 posts)

57. basketball is a game

I don't think chess should be in the Olympics either.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 08:37 AM

whistler162 (11,155 posts)

35. As long as it is combined with

Greco-Roman wrestling.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 08:40 AM

Sea-Dog (247 posts)

36. it may start filling the seats

been hearing that the army is to fill them so the place looks full. I shit you not

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 08:44 AM

HappyMe (20,277 posts)

37. No.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 09:30 AM

randr (12,278 posts)

38. The board side commentary from Bob Costas

will be thrilling.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:20 AM

Johonny (19,467 posts)

39. only if you shoot the pieces with an air rifle

then it's an athletic event

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:25 AM

HopeHoops (47,675 posts)

42. I doubt they could get Budweiser to sponsor that.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:39 PM

Zanzoobar (894 posts)

46. Yes, if huffing and puffing become a sport.

With no movement at all.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:39 PM

madinmaryland (64,601 posts)

47. YES

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:42 PM

madinmaryland (64,601 posts)

48. The DU Chess Master will be checking in shortly to give his opinion...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/120415468

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 11:20 PM

lib2DaBone (8,124 posts)

51. Sure..why not...

..it's all bullshit anyways?

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 11:24 PM

chollybocker (3,687 posts)

52. Yes.

Especially for those moments when a player keeps his finger on top of the piece he may - *or may not* - move.

"He could ... move ... all the way!"

Gripping drama. Ratings gold.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 11:24 PM

Speck Tater (10,618 posts)

53. Only if it's played with swords and maces

and before the pawn can capture the knight he has to best him in mortal combat. Now THAT would be sport.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 11:25 PM

spanone (134,451 posts)

54. is a board game a sport? dunno

i love chess

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 11:29 PM

tularetom (23,664 posts)

55. Why not beach chess featuring young women in skimpy bikinis?

I'd watch it at least once.

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Response to tularetom (Reply #55)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 12:00 AM

chollybocker (3,687 posts)

56. Or dudes.

Bishop to Knight 7, if you know what I mean....

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 12:36 AM

Jack Rabbit (45,984 posts)

58. Chess players are against it

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the George W. Bush of chess, pushes the idea and, like other third world autocrats he professes to admire (including George W. Bush), doesn't give a flying leap what the people (or the chess players) think. His support indicates that he has found a way for Olympic chess to line his pockets.

Chess players don't want to be drug tested for drugs that would do them no good whatsoever and probably actually harm performance. I'll defer to the players rather than King Kirsan.

There has been a tournament known as the Chess Olympics since 1933. It's held every two years, nowadays in even numbered years. The 2012 Chess Olympiad will be played in Istanbul from August 27-September 10. That's the only Olympic games chess really needs.

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Response to Zalatix (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:59 AM

Peepsite (113 posts)