André Akkari gave an interview on the Do Pedro Bial program at dawn on 05/14. Pedro Bial is a very prestigious presenter, known for presenting O fantastic, Big Brother Brasil among others.
André Akkari addressed the issue of poker being a sport of the mind a lot and the migration of sportsmen from other areas to poker was also strongly emphasized. The interview was also attended by Neymar jr and Maurem, the pole vault Olympic medalist who also intends to become a professional poker player.
It is a great stimulus to see poker taking on this type of visibility here in Brazil, to break paradigms and taboos that are often created by laymen or non-poker fans, the need for and the possibility of poker becoming an Olympic sport was also addressed. . Akkari emphasized: "Ten years ago it might have seemed crazy that surfing became an Olympic sport as well as skateboarding and today we see that this is a reality so it would be crazy to think that poker cannot be an Olympic sport."

Andre Akkari interview

https://bnldata.com.br/comunidade-do-poker-festeja-entrevista-de-andre-akkari-na-tv-globo/

You Tube

(in Portuguese)

It's already available on Youtube in portuguese. Poker as an olympic sport i think it is difficult, because historically there have been cases of bank fraud and money laundering. And legalizing would be a gateway for that purpose and other crimes.

Originally Posted by acidburnfx

It's already available on Youtube in portuguese. Poker as an olympic sport i think it is difficult, because historically there have been cases of bank fraud and money laundering. And legalizing would be a gateway for that purpose and other crimes.

yes it is true, but I guarantee that it is not only in poker that cases of money laundering occur, there must be these types of situations in other sports. But legalization is certainly the way.

André Akkari from the interview with the main TV channel, for me he is one of the best poker players in the world and a good coach to learn and study his good poker materials.

Originally Posted by I Live Poker

Pedro Bial is a very prestigious presenter

Prestige for presenting Big Brother!!?? (with all due respect, but no one on that station has any more prestige, they may have had it in the past, today no more ...).


As for Akkari, without comment, the guy has simply been the greatest poker ambassador in Brazil for a long time. Monster !!

Originally Posted by Lexand

Prestige for presenting Big Brother!!?? (with all due respect, but no one on that station has any more prestige, they may have had it in the past, today no more ...).


As for Akkari, without comment, the guy has simply been the greatest poker ambassador in Brazil for a long time. Monster !!

I meant that it is the broadcaster with the most visibility, and although we both don't like this program or even the broadcaster, it does not negate the fact. And yes it has a lot of prestige if no one watched and not even you would know what it is about.

Good afternoon.Akkari is not only a great poker player but he is also a celebrity in Brazil and well deserved it because as a PokerStars Team Pro he has done a lot for this game in that country.

Does anyone have a link for this news? I did add the YouTube video in the first post.

Originally Posted by valeski 28

Good afternoon.Akkari is not only a great poker player but he is also a celebrity in Brazil and well deserved it because as a PokerStars Team Pro he has done a lot for this game in that country.

Yes it's true! This recognition is beautiful on your part even though it is not your nationality!

Originally Posted by Shells

Does anyone have a link for this news? I did add the YouTube video in the first post.

Ah yes I thought I was going crazy.
I think the
acidburnfx knows where to find the interview in question, he mentioned above.

Thanks for the video I will watch!

Nice. Ty for sharing.

Originally Posted by I Live Poker

Ah yes I thought I was going crazy.
I think the
acidburnfx knows where to find the interview in question, he mentioned above.

Thanks for the video I will watch!

I have now added a link to the written news in the first post.

Originally Posted by Shells

I have now added a link to the written news in the first post.

I watched every video that you posted, excellent interview. Much more complete than Andre AKKari's. Thanks!

Actually there on this site is just the announcement of the AKKari interview, but I found the link on the Official program channel here:

You Tube

Originally Posted by I Live Poker

I watched every video that you posted, excellent interview. Much more complete than Andre AKKari's. Thanks!

Actually there on this site is just the announcement of the AKKari interview, but I found the link on the Official program channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDE3-UgHByI

I posted a couple of links that were in English in the first post. The video is in Portuguese. Remember, we need something in English since CardsChat is an English forum. Thanks!

The issue concerning Poker becoming an Olympic sport has been discussed before on these forums.

I think it a non-starter. The problem those who promote such an idea overlook, is the vast majority of the public do not consider poker remotely connected to sport. Bridge has made more inroads with the IOC and they recognize that as a 'sport' but not an Olympic one. I do not believe poker is seen in the same manner.

The comparison with surfing is a real stretch. Competitive surf competitions have been held for decades with well established tours and it goes without saying that surfing demands a high level of physical fitness.

I believe this is where people nominating their favorite pastime to become an Olympic sport will fall short. If the IOC keeps allowing fringe 'sports' and activities into the Olympics they will water down their own content and fewer and fewer people will take the events seriously.

The other thing to consider is that poker players seem to live somewhat in a bubble. The general public's interest in poker is somewhat limited. It might have been enjoying a boom in Brazil but it has not been booming across the world in a similar fashion (ESPN dropping the WSOP for example). Further, as I keep mentioning (though few care) most content (US and international) is now stuck behind the PokerGo paywall which has meant people have less access to poker on TV than at any other time in the last few decades.

Sorry, but regarding poker and the Olympics -I cannot see it happening

Originally Posted by DS3

The issue concerning Poker becoming an Olympic sport has been discussed before on these forums.

I think it a non-starter. The problem those who promote such an idea overlook, is the vast majority of the public do not consider poker remotely connected to sport. Bridge has made more inroads with the IOC and they recognize that as a 'sport' but not an Olympic one. I do not believe poker is seen in the same manner.

The comparison with surfing is a real stretch. Competitive surf competitions have been held for decades with well established tours and it goes without saying that surfing demands a high level of physical fitness.

I believe this is where people nominating their favorite pastime to become an Olympic sport will fall short. If the IOC keeps allowing fringe 'sports' and activities into the Olympics they will water down their own content and fewer and fewer people will take the events seriously.

The other thing to consider is that poker players seem to live somewhat in a bubble. The general public's interest in poker is somewhat limited. It might have been enjoying a boom in Brazil but it has not been booming across the world in a similar fashion (ESPN dropping the WSOP for example). Further, as I keep mentioning (though few care) most content (US and international) is now stuck behind the PokerGo paywall which has meant people have less access to poker on TV than at any other time in the last few decades.

Sorry, but regarding poker and the Olympics -I cannot see it happening

Marginal activities?
I stopped at this point in your post nor will I bother to read the rest ... So you consider yourself a marginal?
Why are you a member of a poker forum and I suppose you play too.

Originally Posted by I Live Poker

Marginal activities?
I stopped at this point in your post nor will I bother to read the rest ... So you consider yourself a marginal?
Why are you a member of a poker forum and I suppose you play too.

Why the tone?

"So you consider yourself a marginal?"...what is that supposed to mean? It's also rather mindless to say you have not read my post...but then proceed to comment. Further, where did I even say marginal?

I replied in a polite and detailed manner and noted the public's perception/involvement in poker and the idea of it being a sport. What percentage of the public would you think playing cards equates to a sport?

The history of the Olympic games is dotted with sports (actual sports as it is) which host nations have allowed and then subsequent Olympic games have dropped. Further I pointed out in recent years the exposure of poker to the public has been limited due to media consolidation and placing most content behind a paywall.

Plenty there to reply to within a frank exchange of views rather than flying off the handle in an immature manner.

Originally Posted by I Live Poker

Marginal activities?
I stopped at this point in your post nor will I bother to read the rest ... So you consider yourself a marginal?
Why are you a member of a poker forum and I suppose you play too.

I think you may have misunderstood, DS. This is only his opinion, for which we are all entitled to and nothing else.

Originally Posted by Shells

I think you may have misunderstood, DS. This is only his opinion, for which we are all entitled to and nothing else.

yes i understand, but if he said that poker is a marginal game and plays it, then ...

this is just my opinion too ,it is not an offense, it is a fact.

Originally Posted by DS3

The issue concerning Poker becoming an Olympic sport has been discussed before on these forums.

I think it a non-starter. The problem those who promote such an idea overlook, is the vast majority of the public do not consider poker remotely connected to sport. Bridge has made more inroads with the IOC and they recognize that as a 'sport' but not an Olympic one. I do not believe poker is seen in the same manner.

The comparison with surfing is a real stretch. Competitive surf competitions have been held for decades with well established tours and it goes without saying that surfing demands a high level of physical fitness.

I believe this is where people nominating their favorite pastime to become an Olympic sport will fall short. If the IOC keeps allowing fringe 'sports' and activities into the Olympics they will water down their own content and fewer and fewer people will take the events seriously.

The other thing to consider is that poker players seem to live somewhat in a bubble. The general public's interest in poker is somewhat limited. It might have been enjoying a boom in Brazil but it has not been booming across the world in a similar fashion (ESPN dropping the WSOP for example). Further, as I keep mentioning (though few care) most content (US and international) is now stuck behind the PokerGo paywall which has meant people have less access to poker on TV than at any other time in the last few decades.

Sorry, but regarding poker and the Olympics -I cannot see it happening

It was in that part here that you said: If the IOC keeps allowing fringe 'sports' and activities into the Olympics they will water down their own content and fewer and fewer people will take the events seriously.But I assume it may have been some error in the translation. If this is the case I apologize.

Originally Posted by I Live Poker

It was in that part here that you said: If the IOC keeps allowing fringe 'sports' and activities into the Olympics they will water down their own content and fewer and fewer people will take the events seriously.But I assume it may have been some error in the translation. If this is the case I apologize.

I presumed Portuguese is your first language and maybe you did not grasp (or translated) the word 'fringe' as marginal, but that is not the meaning in this context. For example you can say 'fringe festival' with rock music and what it would mean is alternative bands outside of the mainstream. It's not derogatory.

In each Olympic games sports come and go depending on what the IOC accepts or rejects and in Rio the games accepted were Rugby Sevens and Golf - other sports such as baseball and squash were not accepted. Therefore I think it safe to assume if the IOC has not yet accepted baseball, poker is not likely to be on committee members lists either.

Thanks you for the apology, humbly accepted. Boa Sorte!

Originally Posted by DS3

I presumed Portuguese is your first language and maybe you did not grasp (or translated) the word 'fringe' as marginal, but that is not the meaning in this context. For example you can say 'fringe festival' with rock music and what it would mean is alternative bands outside of the mainstream. It's not derogatory.

In each Olympic games sports come and go depending on what the IOC accepts or rejects and in Rio the games accepted were Rugby Sevens and Golf - other sports such as baseball and squash were not accepted. Therefore I think it safe to assume if the IOC has not yet accepted baseball, poker is not likely to be on committee members lists either.

Thanks you for the apology, humbly accepted. Boa Sorte!

yes, i understand, but the context is very clear my friend just read the rest of the verse: they will dilute their own content and fewer and fewer people will take events seriously.
But it’s okay that I don’t understand the language very well.
We Brazilians are all:

I thought the rock events were underground ...

.

Originally Posted by DS3

I presumed Portuguese is your first language and maybe you did not grasp (or translated) the word 'fringe' as marginal, but that is not the meaning in this context. For example you can say 'fringe festival' with rock music and what it would mean is alternative bands outside of the mainstream. It's not derogatory.

In each Olympic games sports come and go depending on what the IOC accepts or rejects and in Rio the games accepted were Rugby Sevens and Golf - other sports such as baseball and squash were not accepted. Therefore I think it safe to assume if the IOC has not yet accepted baseball, poker is not likely to be on committee members lists either.

Thanks you for the apology, humbly accepted. Boa Sorte!

But all the same, my friend, that is your opinion and I have my opinion that is contrary to yours, but that does not mean that I am obliged to read your comment. And life that follows
and hug.

There are subtitles for English here also the link:

You Tube

I don't know if the link will already be subtitled ...

I must also emphasize that in the video there are two Olympic athletes who support poker in the Olympics Maurem, who was a medalist in pole vaulting and migrated to poker, and also Neymar Jr, who has already participated in the Olympics and everyone already knows his involvement with poker. .

Poker should be left as is, and try to keep it safe and reputable because once it is legalized as says it will be a catastrophe for the game itself.
I still maintain that it is not a sport and therefore I do not think that it should be included as an Olympic sport more there of all the shady negosiations that exist around.
I agree that it is a game where mind it is fundamental

Originally Posted by albosaltenio

Poker should be left as is, and try to keep it safe and reputable because once it is legalized as says it will be a catastrophe for the game itself.
I still maintain that it is not a sport and therefore I do not think that it should be included as an Olympic sport more there of all the shady negosiations that exist around.
I agree that it is a game where mind it is fundamental

I would like to know why it would be a catastrophe for the game?
Here in Brazil I think it would not be, since for not being regularized we have to pay the tax of 27.5% of the amounts we earn.
And also if it were legalized it would be the end of these dark negotiations that you talked about and it would also increase the credibility of poker bringing many benefits to website owners as well as governments that would raise more taxes.

Originally Posted by I Live Poker

But all the same, my friend, that is your opinion and I have my opinion that is contrary to yours, but that does not mean that I am obliged to read your comment. And life that follows
and hug.

Okay but you now seem to be digging a hole deeper with the Olympics thing.

A reminder, this issue has been raised before (poker at the Olympics) and just because ex-Olympians now play poker does not make it a more sensible idea.

You and some others seem to think poker will become an Olympic sport and I do not, simple, lets see what happens in the longer term.

Finally, regarding sports and the idea of fewer and fewer people taking the games seriously - again you miss the point. The IOC itself adds and then drops games from the Olympics as it sees fit and has done so for over 100 years. They have a variety of reasons for doing so.

I have also said in the past it is notable that those who call for poker to become an Olympic sport have seldom if ever given it any serious thought. Did Neymar for example discuss whether it would be professional or amateur players? Because it surely would not be for money (certainly not allowed) rather than just chips and prestige.

And how would tournaments be staged exactly....would they allow open fields of thousands to suddenly show up and participate? Highly unlikely. So what would be the format? A very limited number of player representing country playing each other? So far when this has been attempted (international competitions) commercially it has enjoyed little success. Further poker in the Olympics advocates never seem to have contemplated the idea of host countries not accepting poker as gambling is prohibited in their country.

Did Neymar discuss any of this?

Originally Posted by DS3

Okay but you now seem to be digging a hole deeper with the Olympics thing.

A reminder, this issue has been raised before (poker at the Olympics) and just because ex-Olympians now play poker does not make it a more sensible idea.

You and some others seem to think poker will become an Olympic sport and I do not, simple, lets see what happens in the longer term.

Finally, regarding sports and the idea of fewer and fewer people taking the games seriously - again you miss the point. The IOC itself adds and then drops games from the Olympics as it sees fit and has done so for over 100 years. They have a variety of reasons for doing so.

I have also said in the past it is notable that those who call for poker to become an Olympic sport have seldom if ever given it any serious thought. Did Neymar for example discuss whether it would be professional or amateur players? Because it surely would not be for money (certainly not allowed) rather than just chips and prestige.

And how would tournaments be staged exactly....would they allow open fields of thousands to suddenly show up and participate? Highly unlikely. So what would be the format? A very limited number of player representing country playing each other? So far when this has been attempted (international competitions) commercially it has enjoyed little success. Further poker in the Olympics advocates never seem to have contemplated the idea of host countries not accepting poker as gambling is prohibited in their country.

Did Neymar discuss any of this?

The first two questions are easy to answer:
1) I believe that yes, just playing for chips, in fact this already happens, money is just a consequence of those who know the game of chips, cards and people. And I also believe that it would not be for mere prestige, but for the prestige of representing your nation.
2) There should be national eliminatories in each country as in any other sport and the best represent the respective countries.
3) Now this question is up to each country, but I believe that in the meantime if countries that disapprove of the practice are included in the Olympics, they would think a little better about it.

Originally Posted by DS3

Okay but you now seem to be digging a hole deeper with the Olympics thing.

A reminder, this issue has been raised before (poker at the Olympics) and just because ex-Olympians now play poker does not make it a more sensible idea.

You and some others seem to think poker will become an Olympic sport and I do not, simple, lets see what happens in the longer term.

Finally, regarding sports and the idea of fewer and fewer people taking the games seriously - again you miss the point. The IOC itself adds and then drops games from the Olympics as it sees fit and has done so for over 100 years. They have a variety of reasons for doing so.

I have also said in the past it is notable that those who call for poker to become an Olympic sport have seldom if ever given it any serious thought. Did Neymar for example discuss whether it would be professional or amateur players? Because it surely would not be for money (certainly not allowed) rather than just chips and prestige.

And how would tournaments be staged exactly....would they allow open fields of thousands to suddenly show up and participate? Highly unlikely. So what would be the format? A very limited number of player representing country playing each other? So far when this has been attempted (international competitions) commercially it has enjoyed little success. Further poker in the Olympics advocates never seem to have contemplated the idea of host countries not accepting poker as gambling is prohibited in their country.

Did Neymar discuss any of this?

Dude, in fact, you are one of the few poker players I know with this mentality, I would like to understand your aversion to poker at the Olympics?
Are you at least an Olympic sportsman?
My friend I will laugh at you so much if from here, let's say ... about ten years of poker as well as other games like chess are included in the Olympics ... I will be forced to troll you if that happens

Originally Posted by I Live Poker

Dude, in fact, you are one of the few poker players I know with this mentality, I would like to understand your aversion to poker at the Olympics?
Are you at least an Olympic sportsman?
My friend I will laugh at you so much if from here, let's say ... about ten years of poker as well as other games like chess are included in the Olympics ... I will be forced to troll you if that happens

Yes, feel free to troll me of poker becomes an Olympic sport but for now that is not close to reality!

I have no aversion to poker at the Olympics, I do really do care one way or the other. Except that is from an Olympic game perspective where I think the games would lose credibility. Why not have Blackjack in the Olympics or Dominoes?

I have been involved in several posts where I note I do not think poker on an international level promotes itself well. The industry largely seems to have rested on its laurels after the Moneymaker effect. What I would prefer is the industry to look within itself seriously and find ways to grow the game. I can see why Brazilians might think this is happening but the fact is a certain success has latterly been enjoyed in Brazil, but not everywhere else.

If poker is to grow it needs to do more than try to hitch itself to the Olympic games (which will likely ne a waste of time regardless).

Finally, as underlined Bridge was not accepted by the IOC. Bridge already has global organization and competitions with a well established World Championship. Further Bridge has world rankings for players (individually. although necessarily as part of a team).If the IOC was to accept one card game into the mix, I believe it would be Bridge. I doubt very much after the IOC recognized Bridge as a sport (not without some controversy) they would then opt to bring another card game such as poker into the games before Bridge.

hello, I am following your conversation, by the way, very interesting, relevant and constructive, and I would like to make a comment.

First, I would like to make it clear that I am totally in favor of the growth and development of the game, even if it became an Olympic sport.

But my life experience shows that this is a practically impossible situation, and I say why:

Olympics are disputes between "countries", this is the first barrier of all.

Some countries still do not consider poker a sport, others do not even allow it to be played live, this already shows the size of the problem that would be to put into practice a competition.

Even if this problem is solved, there are still other problems: "lobby"!

Those who believe that it is only about competing and representing their nation, have no idea how much money an Olympics represents!

So, how many other associations and organizations from other sports, some even with more visibility than poker, are not at this very moment, trying to isolate their own sports, leagues and associations within the competition?

Is it just for the love of the sport? or does this involve financial gains, directly or indirectly?

GL

Originally Posted by I Live Poker

There are subtitles for English here also the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDE3-UgHByI&t=466s
I don't know if the link will already be subtitled ...

I must also emphasize that in the video there are two Olympic athletes who support poker in the Olympics Maurem, who was a medalist in pole vaulting and migrated to poker, and also Neymar Jr, who has already participated in the Olympics and everyone already knows his involvement with poker. .

The link is still in Portuguese but I changed my settings to sub title in English.

I couple pick out a few words in Portuguese here and there but much better to read in English.

Andre and Maurreen makes some interesting points as would most people who have played poker.

However, IF poker EVER went to the Olympics it would not likely be in my lifetime. First of all, poker is a mental game combined with a level of chance. I'm sitting here wondering, is there any other sport/game even close to poker that has been part of any other contest of a variety of sports? Poker as a physical sport is a very, very hard sell. Mental sport? Maybe but there is too much of a level of chance involved. In my opinion, poker does not fit in the Olympics at least right now.

Originally Posted by Jason Bralli

hello, I am following your conversation, by the way, very interesting, relevant and constructive, and I would like to make a comment.

First, I would like to make it clear that I am totally in favor of the growth and development of the game, even if it became an Olympic sport.

But my life experience shows that this is a practically impossible situation, and I say why:

Olympics are disputes between "countries", this is the first barrier of all.

Some countries still do not consider poker a sport, others do not even allow it to be played live, this already shows the size of the problem that would be to put into practice a competition.

Even if this problem is solved, there are still other problems: "lobby"!

Those who believe that it is only about competing and representing their nation, have no idea how much money an Olympics represents!

So, how many other associations and organizations from other sports, some even with more visibility than poker, are not at this very moment, trying to isolate their own sports, leagues and associations within the competition?

Is it just for the love of the sport? or does this involve financial gains, directly or indirectly?

GL

Yes, very well placed my dear. I understand that it is a remote chance but I cannot help but dream about it and encourage such an event.
Regarding being banned in other countries, I agree that it is a big barrier, but we have cases of countries that are out of other sports due to lack of competitors so these are a matter for the country itself.
And regarding the lobbying and money involved I believe that poker is way ahead of other sports.

Originally Posted by Shells

The link is still in Portuguese but I changed my settings to sub title in English.

I couple pick out a few words in Portuguese here and there but much better to read in English.

Andre and Maurreen makes some interesting points as would most people who have played poker.

However, IF poker EVER went to the Olympics it would not likely be in my lifetime. First of all, poker is a mental game combined with a level of chance. I'm sitting here wondering, is there any other sport/game even close to poker that has been part of any other contest of a variety of sports? Poker as a physical sport is a very, very hard sell. Mental sport? Maybe but there is too much of a level of chance involved. In my opinion, poker does not fit in the Olympics at least right now.

Yes, in truth it was not an in-depth interview about poker they approached in a superficial and generic way so that lay viewers or those who are unfamiliar with the sport understand a little.
I agree with you, I was thinking here if this happens it will take a little longer than I would like.
Perhaps a reasonable idea would be to create a world Olympics for the support of the mind.
I have been studying poker equity a lot and it really is a game of very similar odds and luck turns out to be a major factor despite the existence of many mechanisms and strategies to mitigate it.

No, Bial doesn't have much prestige jajajaj
As for Akkari, it's a great example and icon for us.
Regarding poker at the Olympics... I don't think it fits, that's all.

André Akkari from the interview with the main television channel, for me he is one of the best poker players in the world and a good coach to learn and study

Originally Posted by Mati532

André Akkari from the interview with the main television channel, for me he is one of the best poker players in the world and a good coach to learn and study

sure, dude!

Brazilian poker is lucky to have Andre Akkari, he has contributed and still contributes a lot to the sport in the country. I'm this guy's fan