h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Anyone reading this article might also like to look at this: F120283?thread=264436.

Hmm,

Interesting article on the "Vorsprung durch technik" angle, but as you can only really compete against your contemporaries who generally have the same equipment, things tend to level out.

Perhaps more in line with the subject, I think most people tend to separate sports into "real" and "Mickey Mouse" categories.

My own prejudices for what constitutes a "real" sport include:

1. Some degree of physical prowess/ability/skill to be required for the participants

2. An objective method should exist to determine who has won

By these criteria for example, Beach Volleyball is real sport, but Synchronised Swimming and Ice Dancing aren't

I also find it preferable that an element of (human) muscle-power/endurance should be required, but maybe that's just me.

It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye. Then it's sport.