High Court Set To Decide Whether Card Game Is A Sport
A High Court judge will decide whether bridge should be classified as a sport as a group of players seek a judicial review so that they can receive more funding. The argument comes as Sport England failed to classify the card game as a sport, meaning that the English Bridge Union receives no money from the government to run clubs across the country.
While the organization admits that bridge includes no physical activity, members are hoping to persuade the court that it helps to keep the mind healthy. If they can convince the judge that the game should be a sport then they will be eligible for grants that could be used to create more clubs and tournaments.
Meanwhile, Sport England argues that bridge cannot be classed as a sport as it doesn’t do anything to help people get fitter. Despite the fact that they have classified activities such as fishing, model aircraft flying and lifesaving as official sports, they state that bridge offers no health benefits. Their definition of sport includes any “activity aimed at improving physical fitness and well-being, forming social relations and gaining results in competition“.
