Is Math A Sport?

theodp writes "The close of the International Mathematical Olympiad prompts Slate to question if math is a sport, wondering if mathletes might someday compete in the Olympics alongside track stars and basketball players."

Comments

Well...

[sk6307]

If curling is a sport, anything is possible.

Re:Ridiculous.

[Anonymous Coward]

If math is a sport then what isn't a sport.

Bowling.

Poker on ESPN

[ikea5]

Well, if World Series Of Poker can be broacasted on ESPN, then I guess math is a sport.

Sure!

[natefanaro]

Math should be a sport as much as 0 equals 1.

If Math is or is not a sport...

[atomic-penguin]

I would like to see a mathematical proof written to support the claim.

Re:Ridiculous.

[Corgha]

If math is a sport then what isn't a sport. Fuck. [emphasis mine]

You said it. That is something that probably won't be in the Olympics for a long while.

I disagree...

[John Seminal]

Those criteria can make anything a sport. For example, by your criteria, masturbation can be a sport. I know people who have been training in masturbation for years. They do it every day. They progress and get better at it. No more of the right hand only, then use the left hand too, and upside down. They can even postpone ejaculation. And yes, some people are more naturally gifted at masturbating than others. But do we want to call it a sport?

You are missing one of the main criteria for sports. You have to be able to stop someone else from scoring or getting what they want. In all games, there is a defense for the offense. What can you defensivly do to stop someone in math?

Re:I disagree...

[Epistax]

I'd like to see you play defense in bowling. Or golf. I'll bring the camera, you bring the ambulance.

Re:Yes

[rokzy]

Maths is not a sport.

If it were, then why not Physics? or Chemistry? or Biology? or History? or Latin?

I suspect people who want maths to be a sport are those who are good at multiplication tables and think they deserve recognition for it, but are too crap to actually do any proper mathematical research.

Math Isn't A Sport: A Proof By Contradiction

[B2K3]

Step 1: Assume Math is a sport.

Step 2: If Math is a sport, all Math nerds are athletes.

Step 3: All atheletes are jocks (remember high school?).

Step 4: All jocks beat up math nerds (again, re: high school).

Conclusion: All Math nerds beat up math nerds.

But: I am a math nerd, and have never beaten anyone up (including myself or any another math nerd).

This is a contradiction.

Ergo, Math isn't a sport.

QED

Re:Ridiculous.

[grammar fascist]

Imagine the RATINGS!

XXX, I'd imagine.

Re:Ridiculous.

[SydShamino]

No, math is not an athletic sport. But it is still something to compete in and be proud of. I got a few nice trips and multiple days out of school in high school to travel for math competitions, and I wasn't particularly good at them.

What upsets me more, though, is how academic and athletic achievement are recognized so differently.

For example, a student athlete has their records published in the newspaper, the yearbook, and is recognized at student events. The student athletes that aren't as good don't get as much recognition, but their performances are public record as well.

Contrast this with schools that are having to eliminate 'A' and 'B' honor rolls, because publication of such rolls shows that everyone not on those lists are 'C' or below students.

So someone who's even marginally good at sports get to see their name in the paper, and get talked about at school, while those who are good at academics might get a note from the teacher with an extra smiley face sticker. No wonder academic instruction in the US is going downhill.