Olympics curling

[crankedup]

I can appreciate the skills involved in this activity, however when the presenters refer to the participants as athletes I find that somewhat stretching the real term ‘athelete’ and it’s meaning.
When is a game suddenly deemed to be a sport?

[oyster]

crankedup said:

I can appreciate the skills involved in this activity, however when the presenters refer to the participants as athletes I find that somewhat stretching the real term ‘athelete’ and it’s meaning.
When is a game suddenly deemed to be a sport?

For me a sport is something that includes physical skill or effort. Curling therefore is a sport.

A game can be done purely mentally and physical involvement is not part of the actual game. Chess, for example.



The greyest area for me is whether something can be described as a sport if you need style as well as skill to win. Is Ice Dancing a sport? Can you win ugly like you can in what I define as a sport?

[Vocal Minority]

I have always found judging vs strict scoring an interesting aspect of the Olympics and this debate

Re: The athletes thing - whilst they won't break a considerable sweat and it's not an endurance thing, it requires balance, poise, flexibility, judgement of strength and power - I'd say they all qualify as athletic traits

[crankedup]

Fair comments raised.

[julianm]

Russian curling bloke has had his medal removed due to doping
`Krushelnitsky tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, which is believed to help blood circulation.`
Rumours of his food being spiked etc...

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Curling...housework on ice.

[JagLover]

This year I have been recording the BBCs coverage of the games and then catching up mornings and evenings.

Vast amounts of that coverage seems to be hours on end of curling which I have had to fast forward through. Meanwhile among the events that do not appear to have been properly covered is the Men's large hill Ski Jumping (individual & team). Also Figure skating is not covered live but as a catch up programme.

Whether you agree Curling is a sport or not it is a Niche sport that should not take over the BBCs coverage of the games and should instead be on the red button for those who have an interest.

[esxste]

crankedup said:

I can appreciate the skills involved in this activity, however when the presenters refer to the participants as athletes I find that somewhat stretching the real term ‘athelete’ and it’s meaning.
When is a game suddenly deemed to be a sport?

I'd say its a sport when it becomes organised, with a rule setting bodies and competitions.


Like, if you have a kickabout in the park with mates, are you athletes?

How about if you sign up to play football in a league?

How about if your earning money from playing football in a league?

Edited by esxste on Thursday 22 February 16:11

[motco]

julianm said:

Russian curling bloke has had his medal removed due to doping
`Krushelnitsky tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, which is believed to help blood circulation.`
Rumours of his food being spiked etc...

Apart from analgesics for arthritic knees, I cannot imagine what benefit could be gained from 'doping'.

[cuprabob]

Eve Muirhead has always looked fit to me

[55palfers]

Nanook said:

oyster said:

For me a sport is something that includes physical skill or effort. Curling therefore is a sport.

Is Darts a sport?

....and snooker?

[captain_cynic]

55palfers said:

Nanook said:

oyster said:

For me a sport is something that includes physical skill or effort. Curling therefore is a sport.

Is Darts a sport?

....and snooker?

More so than say, rhythmic gymnastics.

Both darts and snooker are competitive physical activities based on skill, not chance or interpretation. Just because you play them at pubs does not mean they aren't sports. I've played many a match of cricket whilst drinking (the only way is enjoyable), does that make it not a sport?

[oyster]

55palfers said:

Nanook said:

oyster said:

For me a sport is something that includes physical skill or effort. Curling therefore is a sport.

Is Darts a sport?

....and snooker?

Both are very much sports.

You need a huge degree of physical skill to play either of them. And huge amounts of practice and natural talent.



Back to the OP - don't confuse the use of the word athlete with use of the word sport. You can be a world champion darts player without being an athlete.

Indeed until the 90s, I doubt most F1 drivers would consider themselves athletes.

[BlackLabel]

cuprabob said:

Eve Muirhead has always looked fit to me

Anna Sloan and her make a good team (of Curlers).

[TwigtheWonderkid]

If it requires special footwear, it's a sport. (football, cricket, golf, curling, horse stuff).
If you can do it in normal footwear, it isn't. (darts, snooker, shooting, bow and arrow stuff).

Apart from the exceptions.

[Funkycoldribena]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Curling...housework on ice.

I'm surprised Vileda don't sponsor it.

[crankedup]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Curling...housework on ice.

Imagine that the participants simply ‘brush’ those comments aside.

[crankedup]

I think it’s a modern twist on wordage, after all it is the Olympic Games. Maybe they need to rename it the Olympic Sports.

[JuniorD]

motco said:

julianm said:

Russian curling bloke has had his medal removed due to doping
`Krushelnitsky tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, which is believed to help blood circulation.`
Rumours of his food being spiked etc...

Apart from analgesics for arthritic knees, I cannot imagine what benefit could be gained from 'doping'.

If you have to use that brush like a bd for a few intensive weeks, I guess you might get tired. Tired arms and body could mean you don't slide the stone just as well (do the brushers get to slide the stone?). If you can do something to mitigate the effects of tiredness/fatigue/ physical effort, then your capacity to perform the other aspects, even the mental ones, is maintained or enhanced.

[motco]

JuniorD said:

motco said:

julianm said:

Russian curling bloke has had his medal removed due to doping
`Krushelnitsky tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, which is believed to help blood circulation.`
Rumours of his food being spiked etc...

Apart from analgesics for arthritic knees, I cannot imagine what benefit could be gained from 'doping'.

If you have to use that brush like a bd for a few intensive weeks, I guess you might get tired. Tired arms and body could mean you don't slide the stone just as well (do the brushers get to slide the stone?). If you can do something to mitigate the effects of tiredness/fatigue/ physical effort, then your capacity to perform the other aspects, even the mental ones, is maintained or enhanced.

You raise a good point with the brushers. Who wins the medal? Is it the person who casts the stone, the brushers for conditioning the ice most effectively, or the team of caster and brushers? Could a caster be disqualified if a brusher was on something?