Is darts really a sport?

[nicktay2605]

I just found this article and was intrigued what you all thought about darts:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article5447372.ece

So, do you believe darts is worthy of being classed as a sport? And should the men who play it be called athletes?

My personal feeling is that if pool and snooker can be considered sports, then why not darts? However, the men who play it have no right to be called athletes. The distinction between sportsmen and athletes is that to be an athlete I think that person needs to be at, or near, both a peak of physical skill and a skill at their sport. This is why tennis players, footballers, rugby players, etc should be considered both sportsmen and athletes. As with sports like snooker and pool, I think darts players lack the physical conditioning to be considered real athletes.

 

[Tom0]

I'd call it an emerging sport, albeit slowly.

 

[Mr-White]

its no different from golf or snooker, it all depends on your definition of sport

MW

 

[lemonkettaz]

I'd call it a game

 

[Peg]

It's a pub game the same as crib and dominoes.

 

[azza21]

I class it as just a game, you can hardly call phil taylor or barneveld an athlete can you.

 

[Clipsey]

Game / hobby. Not a sport!

 

[Clipsey]

To back up my post:
Not exactly in prime condition for one of the top sports man in darts?

(I know he lost loads of weight)

 

[Chaosboss]

I'd call it a game

 

[dun]

Game / hobby. Not a sport!

Indeed.

 

[bledd]

I'd call it a game

ditto..

same with golf, snooker

i highly respect people that excel in them though

 

[lemonkettaz]

Yeh, calling it a game doesnt take away the skill that is required to be at the top.

 

[kaiowas]

So to those who consider it a game, where do archery and target shooting fit in? These are considered sports of an olympic level but are similar to darts and if anything require less skill (with a bow or a gun the skill lies in holding it steady whilst shooting, darts requires you to perform a complex motion whilst releasing the projectile with accuracy.)

 

[bradeh]

Yeh, calling it a game doesnt take away the skill that is required to be at the top.

I agree, Phil Taylor should be regconized with an Award. I wouldn't be suprised if Darts became an olympic sport either. I believe it is a sport.

 

[NokkonWud]

It's a game of immense skill, like Snooker, therefore Sport.

 

[glitch]

It's definitely a sport but it one of those where it's not suitable to call the participants athletes. They're certainly professional sportsmen, but athletes they are not.

I doubt you'd find many professional darts players arguing the toss either.

 

[Tunney]

To quote the great Andy Fordham - "I think of myself as an athlete because I have been on Grandstand and I wear trainers.".

 

[McBain]

Darts = Pub Game.

 

[jackthezipper]

It's as much of a sport as snooker, shooting, curling, archery etc...

They all take skill. Just because the sport has grown around the pub industry does not make it any less of a sport.

 

[gazzamcg]

So, do you believe darts is worthy of being classed as a sport? And should the men who play it be called athletes?

My personal feeling is that if pool and snooker can be considered sports, then why not darts? However, the men who play it have no right to be called athletes. The distinction between sportsmen and athletes is that to be an athlete I think that person needs to be at, or near, both a peak of physical skill and a skill at their sport. This is why tennis players, footballers, rugby players, etc should be considered both sportsmen and athletes. As with sports like snooker and pool, I think darts players lack the physical conditioning to be considered real athletes.

The definition of true sport = an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature.

Darts players could be the fittest people on the planet, however 'darts' still couldn't be classified as a sport.

Unless they changed the rules where the players had to run 200mtrs before they throw the dart.

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