Is paintball a sport? What makes it a sport?

[Hotpoint]

Originally posted by Robbo
Nah, we don't have to prove anything in this case, if we wanna say we are a sport and we believe we meet the criterion, criterion that we feel is appropriate, then bollocks to the rest of em is what I say !

We may have to agree to differ on this one. Many activities think they are sports but that doesn't necessarily make it so. Only an independent judgement is truly valid

I could claim bending paperclips is a sport and a hell of a lot of deskbound workers do it but that doesn't mean it is

In any case personally I like the idea of Lottery grants for paintball (and the subsidised use of Sports Grounds) so I'll keep chasing the powers that be

 

[Hotpoint]

I'm trying to

Originally posted by duffistuta
get Alan Shearer defined as a ****er - bet I get it done first.

I don't make sucker bets

 

[Baca Loco]

Meanwhile, back in the real world

Originally posted by Hotpoint
No but when I try and get the definition of Paintball changed in the Oxford English Dictionary from "Wargame" to "Sport" it might help

And yes I really am trying to do this!

You might have greater success if you (and the UKwhatsis) concentrated on enrollment. Government at all levels is wary of numbers--build a little clout and you'll have a chance at gaining what you want.
Over here the "sport" thing will happen simply because there will be so many people playing (and by the by) the NPPL has the leg up on eventually becoming the recognized sanctioning body or at least its precursor because of its history.

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Hotpoint
We may have to agree to differ on this one. Many activities think they are sports but that doesn't necessarily make it so. Only an independent judgement is truly valid

I could claim bending paperclips is a sport and a hell of a lot of deskbound workers do it but that doesn't mean it is

In any case personally I like the idea of Lottery grants for paintball (and the subsidised use of Sports Grounds) so I'll keep chasing the powers that be

John, for the sale of clarity and closure, and I know you can deliver on this one, please enlighten us all to what the Sports Council itself declares is the necessary criterion for a participation enabling itself to be classified as a sport !

I would be interested because wasn't it you who told me we did in fact meet every criterion listed ?

And in doing so.........perhaps provide closure to this debate

Just a thought

Pete

 

[Hotpoint]

Originally posted by Robbo
I would be interested because wasn't it you who told me we did in fact meet every criterion listed ?

And in doing so.........perhaps provide closure to this debate

Already did. Look at the first page of this thread

 

[Hotpoint]

Meanwhile, back in the real world

Originally posted by Baca Loco
You might have greater success if you (and the UKwhatsis) concentrated on enrollment. Government at all levels is wary of numbers--build a little clout and you'll have a chance at gaining what you want.

Surprisingly numbers don't actually seem to matter too much to the Sports Councils. They recognise activities such as Bobsleigh which have less than 100 frequent participators in the whole of the UK!

As for influencing the government itself a multitude of extremely vocal Pistol-Shooters (and latterly Fox-Hunters) had very little impact

It's the realtionship with the media not the number of participants that's really the source of power (at least in the UK)

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Hotpoint
Already did. Look at the first page of this thread

My case now rests..............

 

[Hotpoint]

Originally posted by Robbo
My case now rests..............

Hey I've never argued we're not a Sport. In fact I've spent much time arguing we are, it's just until I can force the bureaucrats to sign the piece of paper we are still not officially recognised as such in the UK

The fact that they are blatantly ignoring their own rules does not make for a strong case against recognition which is why it's just a matter of time

I just hope the IOC are as inept when the time comes

 

[Baca Loco]

Re: Meanwhile, back in the real world

Originally posted by Hotpoint
Surprisingly numbers don't actually seem to matter too much to the Sports Councils. They recognise activities such as Bobsleigh which have less than 100 frequent participators in the whole of the UK!

It's the realtionship with the media not the number of participants that's really the source of power (at least in the UK)

Yes, well, Bobsledding is a recognized sport all over so it would look rather silly if they didn't, wouldn't it? I imagine the Sports Council also recognizes ski jumping too (and you only have Eddie the Eagle last I heard. )
Maybe this means you should join with your fellow Euros and go over the head of the Sports Council and get the EU to recognize pball as a sport.

If the media is the key why do you keep dealing with the wrong people?

If the Sports Councils are already ignoring their own standards to deny pball what's going to make them change?

 

[duffistuta]

Good point - and if the UKPSF

needs a press officer then I know an eminently qualified person who's available for a negotiable salary...