Game of Thrones or Sport of Kings?

[steepholm]

I just asked this on FB, but would be interested in opinions here too.

I've never understood why Formula 1 is classed as a sport. Or, if it is, why chess is not so classified, given that both are sedentary activities characterized by periods of sustained concentration. Or, it's a question of quick reactions as well as concentration, why are marathon sessions of Street Fighter 2 played from the comfort of one's sofa not seen as a sporting activity?

Is there a real distinction between sports and games (albeit with the possibility of an intersection between the two sets), or is just a question of historical happenstance which activity acquires which label?

Comments

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

It doesn't directly address your concentration, but F1 also demands some measure of physical strength, stamina and dexterity, being two hours of concentrated driving at the most demanding level - very frequent cornering, overtaking &c

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

This is true. Of course, many things involve those qualities without being considered sports (e.g. being a professional dancer), but perhaps that's part of it. Sport may be a "fuzzy set."

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Dancing on ice is considered a sport; dancing on wood is not. Very strange.