Do you think poker should be a olympic sport?

imtheman

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I just read this article and being the sport buff i figured i'd copy it and past it here for u to read let me no what u think? The debate to add poker to the Olympic Games has returned. The decision to allow golf and kitesurfing as new Olympic sports for the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, brazil, has encouraged poker enthusiasts to start campaigning again. This is not the first time that petitions have started to attempt to add the popular card game to the Olympics.
The first efforts to add poker to the Olympic Games began after it was accepted into the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA). It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the only way an activity can be added to the Olympics is if the IOC recognizes the association. Some initial petitions and Facebook pages started to support the idea. However, the International Olympic Committee never gave an official verdict on the topic.
In 2012, the "Bringing Mind Sports into the Classroom and Beyond" conference at Harvard Law School considered the possibility of the Olympics and discussed creating an "Olympic vision" for the future. Poker was represented at the conference. The idea of this game becoming a part of the future Olympics continues to be discussed among fans on many forums.
Poker is not the only game that is being debated as a possible addition to the Olympics. Other activities and sports have attempted to get the attention of the IOC in the past. Ballroom dancing, chess and others have tried to join the Olympic Games. Although the IOC rejected these bids, it has officially recognized chess, so fans still believe there is hope. Even tug of war, removed from the Olympics in 1920, is trying to get back.
The process to become an official part of the Olympic Games is complex and time consuming. The first step, already achieved by poker, is to be accepted and recognized by an international association. Then, the sport or activity must prove that it has good governance with regulations and is popular, transparent, fair and universal. Even if an activity fits all of these requirements, inclusion is never guaranteed because the International Olympic Committee ultimately decides if it should be added.
 
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Weissr

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do you think poker should be a olympic sport
Lol, definite no!
Olympic sports are based almost purely on skill. The whole idea is to gather the best athletes in the world and compete to see who is the very best on that given day.

Poker has some skill but also a huge amount of luck; the skill portion only being realized over a long-term sample. On any given day one of the worst players could beat one the very best players if they happen to run good. Hardly something you want to start giving Olympic Medals out over...
 
Henry Minute

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Absotively not.

I think the Olympics should be for sports only and Poker is most definitely not a sport.

I'd go further. I think the only 'sports' that should be allowed are those where the winner can be determined by measurement.

That does not include measuring a human's opinion. So no more Ice Dancing, no more Synchronized Drowning, no more Dressage, many, many less Gymnastic events etc. etc. etc.

This message has been brought to you by the Grumpy Old Farts Party (UK division). :secruity:
 
mapt02h

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There were discussions about "eSports" (competitive video games) being added for the Beijing games in 2008, due to the sheer popularity of games there - this is why it was considered to begin with.

Counter-strike, a team based game I played, is similar to snooker in the way that scoring works. Team that wins 16 rounds wins the game and carries on in the tournament and matches are normally best of three. This is to ensure that the luck factor is kept to a minimum.

There are currently sports that have huge elements of luck in them, kinda like how poker does I suppose. Let's take football (or soccer for you yanks) as an example. A team can have 30 shots on goal, with the opposing goalie having the game of his life and them hitting the post/bar 2-3 times etc. The team that is getting "battered" has one attack in the game and scores a goal and wins. In a game such as snooker and Counter-Strike, the better player(team) wins rounds. By winning the rounds, this ensures that the better participant wins most of the time.

So, luck is not completely absent from sports. What format of poker would be played? Hu games with best of 11 games or something ensuring the best player goes through?
 
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lost2qandisa

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I agree with most others.... poker is not a sport. It takes endurance sometimes but that still does not make it a sport.
 
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cotta777

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Lol.
can you imagine the whole usa olympic sprint team turn up late for training after maxing out their cards spending a hotel with the US poker squad.

I tell you what I would love to see a team league based on the best ten players of some sort each country.
 
vinylspiros

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Yes, it should be. I always knew there was an athlete underneath the guy sitting on his computer all day drinking coffee and eating Doritos.
 
OzExorcist

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There's exactly *math math math* ZERO chance of this ever happening.

Maybe at some crazy point in the future they might accept a game like chess. But there's not a chance in hell that the IOC would ever condone / hand out medals for gambling.
 
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Weissr

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There are currently sports that have huge elements of luck in them, kinda like how poker does I suppose. Let's take football (or soccer for you yanks) as an example. A team can have 30 shots on goal, with the opposing goalie having the game of his life and them hitting the post/bar 2-3 times etc. The team that is getting "battered" has one attack in the game and scores a goal and wins. In a game such as snooker and Counter-Strike, the better player(team) wins rounds. By winning the rounds, this ensures that the better participant wins most of the time.

So, luck is not completely absent from sports. What format of poker would be played? Hu games with best of 11 games or something ensuring the best player goes through?
How is that luck? Sounds like you are describing skill.... (ie. the goalie for the one team playing amazing and also the ball hitting the post a bunch is not really luck, that's where the ball is being kicked, if they kicked it into the net where the goalie couldn't save it it would be a goal. The only luck I can see is if it's like an open stadium and a big gust of wind comes in at the exact moment a ball is about to hit the post and pushes it into the net.)
 
Zorba

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Definitely no, what an ugly site it would be if Greg Raymer won gold for sitting on his fat arse.
 
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cleiton1988

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for my opninion they should put it poker is a beautiful hard 'sport' that you must have mind concetrate an patient to this you doing but i respect the opinion of others that they say it isnt sport and they shouldnt put at olympics
 
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My main objection would be that a dullard on a heater can beat a pro in a short sample (short can be a long time if you are on the wrong end of it) in poker .

If however you put a much lesser skilled opponent against the athletes in the olympics they will not even come close to winning. No matter how many times I skated against Apollo Ohno he would trounce me soundly each time without exception.

Don't get me wrong I love poker and firmly believe it is a game of skill , it just doesn't rise to olympic sport IMHO.
 
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don1980

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No I don't think poker should be an olympic sport.
 
Chipper_Tracy42

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Do you think Poker should be an Olympic sport?

- If Billiards, Pool (Snooker), and Bowling are having a hard time getting in the Olympics, then how much more can you expect Poker to get a favorable nod faster than those three. (Although I would love to see Billiards make it to the Olympics.):icon_sunn
 
XXPXXP

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At most will be in Demonstration Sports program in Olympic games.
like chess games?
 
PoKeRFoRNiA

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If lucky, try applying to Asian Games(Asian Olympics). They accept everything as a sport.
 
steveiam

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No, to much variance involved. :)
 
bkniefel

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Nope. A sport is an athletic activity. Poker is only a mental game. I can't find a reason other than the competitive part.
 
vinylspiros

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hellmuth-gold.jpg
 
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stlbluesfan

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think the only 'sports' that should be allowed are those where the winner can be determined by measurement.

That does not include measuring a human's opinion. So no more Ice Dancing, no more Synchronized Drowning, no more Dressage, many, many less Gymnastic events etc. etc. etc.
I agree with this, plus if they did decide it is an Olympic sport they would then argue for years over if it is a summer or winter game.
Thought on the gymnastics... I think they should make it like a trick competition where one person or team performs a trick then the other has to complete the same as well or better than the original to move on, it would be much more exciting and easier to judge.
 
Comptonkid

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wrestling almost got kicked out of the Olympics and is only safe for the next few games, if they end up getting rid of wrestling and adding something like poker i think i would stop watching the Olympics.
 
Carl Trooper

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I didn't read everything you posted....

I read the title and my answer is

NO.
 
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