Motor racing is "not a real sport".

[Swoop]

According to a bunch of numpties and The Harold.

Their article refers to formula 1, but the poll on the website is less specific with the question "Is motor racing a real sport?".

Luckily a small majority have said "yes"... at this stage.

[imdying]

Of course measured events are real sports...

Examples of 'sports' that aren't, include:
- Diving
- Gymnastics
- Drifting

Once they get a computer to compare, grade, and sort the details of every movement made in each of the above, thus eliminating bias etc in judging, then they'll be sports.

If it needs a judge, it's not a sport.

[F5 Dave]

If it evolves a team & a ball it is a game.

These are useful for teaching children teamwork, the importance of fitting in with society & to cope with victory or defeat with honour.

None of which could be said of those stupid krunts that plague the TV. Leave it to the schoolkids.

[firefighter]

If it needs a judge, it's not a sport.

I ca'nt think of a sport without a judge....

Rubgy, soccer, vollyball, hockey, tennis etcetcetcetc all have referees. A referee is basically a judge.

That means there is no such thing as sport.

[kiwifruit]

Depends on your interpretation of what a sport is, dunnit. I personally don't think F1 or any motor racing is "sport".

[pritch]

If it needs a judge, it's not a sport.

You're probably being a bit tough there. There are a lot of synonyms for "judge". Motor racing has stewards so too horse raciing...

I see what you mean though, ice dancing and synchronised swimming leap to mind.

[Rodney007]

I ca'nt think of a sport without a judge....

Rubgy, soccer, vollyball, hockey, tennis etcetcetcetc all have referees. A referee is basically a judge.

That means there is no such thing as sport.

i think those smugs at the herold havnt heard of motogp,

considering, tennis results gets blabed all over the radio, and the only mention of motorbike racing results is in the last 30 seconds of nightline im really not supprised,

[SlashWylde]

You're probably being a bit tough there. There are a lot of synonyms for "judge". Motor racing has stewards so too horse raciing...

I see what you mean though, ice dancing and synchronised swimming leap to mind.

Seems to me there are two broad categories of sport:

1) Objective assesments of proficiency, e.g. fastest run, longest throw, highest leap, first accross the finish line etc. These do not require a judge per say as the results generally speak for them selves, and merely require suitable officials.

2) Subjective assessments of proficiency, e.g. prettiest gym routine/dive etc. require one or more judges to assess the merits of the performance.

[SPman]

If it has the possibility of sudden violent death whilst participating and demands performance at or near limits which can cause this, it's a sport!

Didn't Ernest Hemingway say, that Motor racing and Bullfighting were the only 2 true sports on the planet....?

[Forest]

I ca'nt think of a sport without a judge....

Rubgy, soccer, vollyball, hockey, tennis etcetcetcetc all have referees. A referee is basically a judge.

That means there is no such thing as sport.

If you subscribe to the traditions of the British Aristocracy then the only real sports are hunting, shooting, and fishing.

Everything else is merely a game.

[Subike]

I guess that these same people would call golf a sport.
Ever been to a womens golf day?
Seen all those oversized middle aged women playing their weekly sport?
Or Sat golf ?
Yet it is up there with motor racing as a High income "sport" for professionls.
If motor rsacing is not sport, neither is golf.
Now bridge and poker could be argued to be the same .
But we all know which is the most common sport. And the best.
Bedroom sport

[firefighter]

Yet it is up there with motor racing as a High income "sport" for professionls.
If motor rsacing is not sport, neither is golf.

True.

I most certainly consider motor racing sport.

The driver needs to be in shape, physically fit, study the tracks, practice a lot, and relies heavily on his team (pit crew etc) to keep the vehicle running at it's absolute peak.

Then he takes his steed out and enters full-on fierce competition for first place.

That is un-disputedly sport.

[Rodney007]

fastest man wins = sport

[imdying]

Rubgy, soccer, vollyball, hockey, tennis etcetcetcetc all have referees. A referee is basically a judge.

No, a referee is an impartial observer who settles disputes that the competing teams are unable to (because they're busy playing, not watching the finer details). You can still play the game fine without a referee, which is the key point... winning and losing is decided by the score, not by the referee. Of course the score itself can be influenced by the referee, and in that regard I don't consider them true sports.

That means there is no such thing as sport.

Athletics. Only judge is a measuring tape or stop watch, neither of which has political or regional bias, and cannot lie.

Depends on your interpretation of what a sport is, dunnit. I personally don't think F1 or any motor racing is "sport".

Well thanks for that captain obvious... Thanks for nothing

You're probably being a bit tough there. There are a lot of synonyms for "judge". Motor racing has stewards so too horse raciing...

In its purest form, the stopwatch is the judge, so it qualifies. Packing crap around it via the aforementioned is only to turn the sport into entertainment, not vice versa.

Seems to me there are two broad categories of sport:

1) Objective assesments of proficiency, e.g. fastest run, longest throw, highest leap, first accross the finish line etc. These do not require a judge per say as the results generally speak for them selves, and merely require suitable officials.

2) Subjective assessments of proficiency, e.g. prettiest gym routine/dive etc. require one or more judges to assess the merits of the performance.

In other words:
1) Sport

2) Non sport

If you subscribe to the traditions of the British Aristocracy then the only real sports are hunting, shooting, and fishing.

Everything else is merely a game.

Fishing yes, no to hunting, shooting is a maybe, depends on how vaguely it's scored.

[kave]

I would have to say that Motor racing is generally not what I would consider a sport. Often it is a showcase of engineering skills, the equipment plays too heavy a role in the results. Of course riders in competitions such as MotoGP have amazing levels of skill, but I personally believe that sport should be a competition between individuals or teams of people with the equipment playing a negligible role, not a competition between manufacturers, mechanics or engineers. A sport (at its pinnacle) should also require a high degree of athleticism from the participants, so that rules out Golf and Snooker as well. Perhaps I would count motorcycle trials or something similar as a sport, but I simply don't know enough about it.