Late breaking?
This has got to be an April Fool.
Gold medals will be awarded to players of computer games at the 2022 Asian Games. The games are run under the auspices of the Olympic Council of Asia and, like the Olympics, offer a two-week orgy of sport. Most of the events at the Asian Games are familiar sports like track and field, aquatics, cycling and sailing, but the …
"You need to check out Diamond Dave Delaney's Darts Workout.
'Exercise nearly all the muscles in one arm...' "
It has been my observation that this is why drinking is a standard accompaniment to darts - so that the other arm also gets an appropriate level of exercise.
For the doubters, a question - is Chess a sport?
the IoC officially recognizes it as such and there have been many famous international players and contests in history. Word is that chess may be accepted as an Olympic sport in 2020 too.
What's the distinction between chess and a suitable team tactics game (such as DOTA2) in this regard? Both challenge mental agility, strategic wit and often reaction times, but a decent MOBA also tests team communications which is an essential element in many sports.
Since when should we measure the worth of athletes *purely* on the basis of physical competency? Surely we can measure mental/communicative competency in the modern age too?
On a related and amusing historical note, did you know that the Olympics used to give prizes for things such as pottery and knitting?
For the doubters, a question - is Chess a sport?
the IoC officially recognizes it as such and there have been many famous international players and contests in history. Word is that chess may be accepted as an Olympic sport in 2020 too.
The latter bit, I doubt it very much. The IOC refuse to reintroduce contests for poetry or art (events which Pierre de Coubertin considered to be as - if not more - important than the physical sports in terms of promoting international and cultural cooperation), I don't see them introducing Chess. They're all about the televise-able, X-Gamesy events at the moment - new BMX/MTB cycle events, trialling rock climbing, etc.
But yes, both Chess and Bridge have been recognised by the IOC as "Mind Sports" for quite some time, though this recognition offers no entitlement to be included in the Games.
For the doubters - have a look at existing esports tournaments. Simon is being rather disingenuous when he comments "...will therefore include computer games. Or “e-sports” as they're now known."
Not all computer games are eSports. Only the ones that are both competitive and require some significant level of mental skill - League of Legends, DOTA2 (amongst others) represent a battle of wits and strategy akin to that offered by Chess. The big tournaments pull tens of thousands of spectators, and millions of online viewers on PPV streaming.