Chess is recognized as a sport. The International Olympic Committee has recognized chess as a sport.
the international olymic committee doesnt get to decide. what else have you got?
Oh, maybe common sense, intelligence, that sort of thing?
ok! try using some!
"with chess played in moderation"
GM's play chess and study chess 'in moderation' ?
Anyway - the conversation doesn't need to be an argument about GM Kramnik's scoliosis.
Back problems would be helped by lack of exercise?
Chess is 'physical exercise' ?
If the example of Kramnik 'doesn't qualify' - that's okay with me.
You can 'disqualify it' if you like.
Perhaps there's a correlation between heavy chessplaying/chess study and back problems - or aggravation of back problems and other physical problems like obesity. And perhaps those correlations can be looked up on the net. Including chessplaying/study from home/on the net.
I haven't looked it up yet. 
Regarding smileys and emoticons - I often use them. Like in the last post.
I recently had an encounter (no names) - somebody taunting me by PM with smileys. Somebody with power here. Smugness.
I'm just a member though.
No power.
"with chess played in moderation"
GM's play chess and study chess 'in moderation' ?
Anyway - the conversation doesn't need to be an argument about GM Kramnik's scoliosis.
Back problems would be helped by lack of exercise?
Chess is 'physical exercise' ?
If the example of Kramnik 'doesn't qualify' - that's okay with me.
You can 'disqualify it' if you like.
Perhaps there's a correlation between heavy chessplaying/chess study and back problems - or aggravation of back problems and other physical problems like obesity. And perhaps those correlations can be looked up on the net. Including chessplaying/study from home/on the net.
I haven't looked it up yet.
I think it's just very likely that sports offer health benefits that chess (and other board games) do not. Chess is a sedentary pursuit. Playing board games, like chess or Monopoly for long periods of time is probably not good for your health, just like any other non sport where sitting is the primary activity. So any claims of chess causing "injury" isn't from chess, it's from lack of exercise for long periods of time.
Claims of "injury" from chess would apply just as well to things like writing an essay, studying for school tests, or doing your taxes.
"or doing your taxes. "
is an annual event not a daily one.
so its not 'just as well'.
Essays and studying for exams are typically isolated events too - not habitual addictive activities.
Bookreading would be closer to chess - physically.
Regarding sports being defined as something involving a lot of exercise -
I don't think that follows.
I say - chess can be regarded as a sport if people want it that way.
Depending on how much the semantics are accepted or rejected determines 'regarded' perhaps. Although there are people who 'regard' the moon as not existing.
Another idea - the words are there to serve Us. Not us to serve words. Nor to serve the dictionary either.
"or doing your taxes. "
is an annual event not a daily one.
so its not 'just as well'.
Essays and studying for exams are typically isolated events too - not habitual addictive activities.
Bookreading would be closer to chess - physically.
Regarding sports being defined as something involving a lot of exercise -
I don't think that follows.
I say - chess can be regarded as a sport if people want it that way.
Depending on how much the semantics are accepted or rejected determines 'regarded' perhaps. Although there are people who 'regard' the moon as not existing.
Another idea - the words are there to serve Us. Not us to serve words. Nor to serve the dictionary either.
Exactly. And it's that "habitual addictive activity" that causes the problem. Not chess itself. Anytime someone just sits for hours at a time is not healthy. Plus some people claim chess is stressful, also not healthy.
So these so called injuries from chess could just as well come from any other thing that someone does while sitting for long periods of time, possibly under stress. It's just very, very different than the actual injuries while playing sports. Like cuts, bruises, broken bones, pulled tendons, etc.
The risks of sports are what also provide the benefits. Physical exercise. Chess (and other board games) do not have those risks, and it also does not have the benefits.
"Exactly. And it's that "habitual addictive activity" that causes the problem. Not chess itself"
I don't think that's digital A or B. To me - the chess (or bookreading or 'glued to a screen') is part of it.
Does this mean chess is to be 'blamed' ?
Well for one - chess is not a person.
I guess the meaning of the word 'blame' could apply or does apply to nonliving entities too.
'Cars don't cause fatal accidents - people do'. Its a syllogism in my humble opinion. Sure cars can cause accidents.
Digression though.
Issue - is chess a 'sport' ?
Why not? Is it a sport 'officially' ? Not if enough people don't want it to be or if not enough people want it to be.
This is a question that cannot be answered. It depends completely on what your definition of 'sport' is, which itself is a pointless question. Defining one meaningless word as another meaningless word will result in endless argument. In order to go anywhere with this discussion, you must first define 'sport'. Once you have agreed on a definition, you must then agree on a definition for 'chess'. And once you've done that, there's no point in debate anymore ! The only thing that makes this argument so controversial is the fact that it depends completely on opinion, something that will never be right or wrong. It naturally cannot be answered.
“When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more, nor less.”
― Lewis Carroll
'Is chess a sport ?' here really means -
'Let's talk about semantics.'
Do semantics matter ? Yes. Totally? No.
Following the dictionary definition of sport:
an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.
Well people can debate about the physical exertion part of it. Chess definitely requires skill and has a competition part. Looking at the professional level, while playing classical, such as the FIDE Grand Prix that is going on, physical and mental exertion is also part of the game
Even Computer games in which competitions are held, are now considered E-sports these days
"an activity involving physical exertion and skill"
they could have said 'or' skill.
I resist regarding the dictionary as bible.
Hunting - by the way - involves some skill. But only walking as far as physical exertion is concerned. Hunting is regarded as a sport but should it be?
Its kind of a mismatch.
The dictionary is not a bible. But if you attach different meanings to a certain word, this whole discussion is not about chess, but everyone's own interpretation of the word "sport".
And that pretty much sums up this whole debate i guess
The dictionary is not a bible. But if you attach different meanings to a certain word, this whole discussion is not about chess, but everyone's own interpretation of the word "sport".
And that pretty much sums up this whole debate i guess
The dictionary often provides for multiple meanings.
And there are different dictionaries too.
Consider how languages develop - and how usage changes over time.
These have happened because people are aware that language is to serve us. Doesn't always work out that way though.
As a multi lingual person, I know the subtleties of language differences well
However the word "chess" doesn't provide room for multiple interpretations. As we all know the game we are talking about.
If you leave a common definition of the word "sport" aside. There is no debate. We can simply share, our own interpretation of the word "sport" here.
Kramnik’s scoliosis was not from chess. It is a genetic condition. My father had it, but did not have the benefit of the treatment Kramnik found.
Stress aggravates it. You can blame that aspect on chess.
I damaged my ulnar nerve playing chess online and had to sleep with a bath towel around my arm for several months to avoid surgery.
But why would long sitting and lack of healthy exercise for long periods of time not aggravate it.
It probably would, but as we know Kramnik never sat still. He always had to visit the toilet, 20-30 times per game.