Why is chess not at the olympics?

Yep. It wouldn’t make sense to have swimming at a CHESS Olympiad. Chess could be in the Olympic GAMES.

In theory it could be. But what other board games would you also suggest be in the Olympics? Since swimming and other sports are not at chess competitions, it might not make much sense to have chess at sports competitions. 

Again I think the reason might have to do with the Olympic spirit. The first Olympics were about recreational competition that supported physical superiority. Not mental ability. The Olympic motto "higher, faster, stronger" doesn't really apply to chess (or any other board game) does it?

I guess they could always change the Olympic motto from what it is now to "sit, watch, think".

You do not have the slightest idea about the spirit of the Olympic games.

This is a pity, as wikipedia is just one click away

Oh I have some idea. A family member, Heidi Bowes, who taught me to ski was on the US Ski Team. She had some experience with the Olympics, and the spirit shared. I never became half the skier she was. But even though our skiing ability is miles apart one thing we can all agree on, chess has no place in the Olympic games. 

Maybe you would like to weigh on on the topic of exactly which board games (besides chess of course) should be in the Olympics. Perhaps you would like to read the very wikipedia article you posted. 

It’s called the Olympic Games, not Olympic Sports. Even if chess isn’t a sport, it could still be in the Olympics.

Yes, theoretically it could. Although when referring to "games" in the Olympic sense they are always sports. I'm still curious as to which board games should be considered for the Olympics. I know backgammon and checkers can be challenging. Monopoly probably takes too long. What about Risk or Sorry? Nothing like the agony of defeat when you get knocked off the board by your opponent. People might tune in to watch that, what do you think?

How do you say "checkmate" in Greek?

Really? In the Olympic sense, game means sport? Ah, thanks. Didn’t know that. Do you do debate or something? You’re super good!

No, I don't debate. It's just a conversation about what chess is, what the Olympics are, and what sports are. Chess is a board game. And so far no board games have ever been in the Olympics. You are right, they could, but I think because the Olympic Games are modeled after the original Greek activities there doesn't seem to be any room for board games. Sports like boxing, running, wrestling, even chariot riding were all events that were sort of related to either military activities or recreation where physical superiority was the goal. 

It makes sense that they are called the Olympic Games because they were not actually trying to kill each other when participating, they were games. Not the real thing. Chess (as well as many other board games like Battleship, Risk, etc) do the same thing. They also mimic real life situations. But they aren't physical competitions so they aren't in the Olympics. 

Same as in German, and a few other languages:

"Σαχ ματ" nee "Sah mat" (in Latin chars). Both words have Persian origin. 

In this particular case, the phrase is probably going to be prospathise xana. Try again. It would have helped if he read the wikipedia article first. It talks about sport. Not board games. 

But he may have been referring to a different Olympic spirit. The article references more than one. 

I didn't thank you for posting this. Not only does this article give one VERY good reason why chess is not in the Olympics (lets see who else can find it), but it also gives another example of why chess isn't a sport. I never thought to look this up or use it, so thanks again. 

Chess is a sport.

https://www.chess.com/article/view/is-chess-a-sport

Chess might be added to the 2024 Olympics.

https://www.chess.com/news/view/chess-put-forward-to-join-paris-2024-olympic-games

Chess isn't a sport. 

An article on chess.com isn't evidence of that.

Chess does not fit the definition of sport. 

Stop beating this dead over used topic.

The IOC recognized chess as a sport.

It doesn't matter if the IOC recognises it as a sport.

By definition and precedent, it's not a sport.

it does matter, the OP's question is answered, chess might become an Olympic Sport. 

It is, simply the fact because it require skills.

I'm all for including chess, although if it clashed with the Synchronized Swimming, I'd have a tough choice to make.