[UK-CONTEST] Time off for Contesting.

[Andy Swiffin]

>>> On 30/11/2006 at 10:44, in message <001901c7146c$7f339960$0201a8c0 at PAV>,
"G3RIR" <g3rir at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Don,
> 
> I have to reply to your comment that "even though other equipment-based 
> sports (sailing,  ...... are recognised as sports ".
> 
> If you had ever taken part in one-design dinghy sailing racing you wouldn't 
> have any hesitation in describing it as a sport. The dinghies in such cases 
> are very very strictly controlled to be equal for every competitor. What is 
> needed to win is a high degree of skill, fitness, stamina both physical and 
> mental and a high degree of mental agility in assessing the constantly 
> changing wind, waves and the other competitors.

> Amateur Radio contesting is not a sport (except perhaps ARDF, Orienteering 
> style) but sailing is most definitely a sport.
> 
> I am certainly one of the "howls of protest" group who object to contesting 
> being called Radio Sport.


Dictionary.com:
sport
*noun 1. 
 an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc 

Sign me up and I'll howl if you like.    I'd seen the term 'radio sport' bandied around and taken a 'well if you must' view to it, but when it gets to this stage......

I enjoy my radio HOBBY, I even take part in some contests, I sometimes, heaven forbid, miss out on some sleeping opportunities to pursue my HOBBY.   But it is a HOBBY not a sport.   

How can amateur radio be a sport - what athletic skills are required?  OK, you can go into training at staying awake for a long time but that is no way sport.  I, in no way, mean to denigrate the skills required and demonstrated by those at the top of the radio contesting pile but you'll be asking me to believe that Sudoku will be in the olympics next.

OK - if you must,  the sport of 'antenna erecting' that I could believe in........

Andy
gm8oeg