Should Poker be an Olympic Sport?

[Joonhi93]

It would be a nice idea, but thinking in numbers I don't think it will happen, I could put together a format of teams from the same countries but I don't think it would attract attention like other sports

 

[chalghaf]

This is a good question...poker requires strategy, intelligence, study your opponents, understand how the game is going on...like other sports.
So, what´s your oppinion...should poker be an Olympic Sport?
Remember that: prizes will be medals, worldwide fame, but no money (you will receive money only if your country´s olympic committee or your country´s government do that).

I dont think Poker should be an olympic sport , for a simple reason , if you take the money out of it , poker loses alot of value .
the higher the stakes the more fun the more poker strategies comes into play . if you dont play for money MOST people will be "shoving all-ins"/play loose all the time "risk-free" .

 

[mkdrummey]

Poker is not a sport. It is no different to computer gaming.

Sorry but a bunch of people sat round a table is a very poor image for something like the olympics.

Very similar reason for darts not being accepted for the olympics, even though that is regarded as a sport.

 

[GuTs16]

No it shouldn't be an Olympic sport, those are majority physical anyway, even archery or events like that... Chess requires less luck (0%) and more skill (100%) and isn't even an Olympic sport yet. We should have our own poker "Olympics" like the wsop. We don't belong with Olympic or Paralympic athletes. Or rather they don't belong with us .
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[zeist2]

Bridge is seen as a sport. Why not poker then? Probably because poker is all about winning money. If this can be released, poker can profile itself as a sport. And only then can it be considered whether it can be Olympic or not.

 

[najisami]

This is a good question...poker requires strategy, intelligence, study your opponents, understand how the game is going on...like other sports.
So, what´s your oppinion...should poker be an Olympic Sport?
Remember that: prizes will be medals, worldwide fame, but no money (you will receive money only if your country´s olympic committee or your country´s government do that).

It has been some talk about including poker in the Olympics around 2006 I think. So far it didn't work. It all comes down to the so persistent question of whether poker is a gambling activity or a game of skill. The legislatures all over the world are also still divided about it, let alone the Olympic committee.
Some of the guys (above) are emphasizing the physical aspects of the other sports, true, but they are not saying anything about the mental abilities without which no athlete can actually succeed in any discipline (patience, perseverance, concentration for extended periods, ..etc...). Those are precisely the abilities any decent poker player is required to possess.
I think that some middle ground will eventually be found, maybe not very soon, but History shows that every (almost any) idea ends up making its way to concretization.

PS : An athlete who wins a medal at the Olympics does win money also.

 

[ulgromkii]

It seems to me not, the Olympic Games are a manifestation of physical strength since the times of ancient Greece. With such success we can talk about chess and many other board games.

 

[Cdub512]

Poker will never be an Olympic sport.

Back in 2006, they had the Intercontinental Poker Championship on CBS. Same sort of deal as an Olympics...21 players representing 21 different countries. Tony G was very entertaining on here!

 

[36yankees]

I don’t think poker should be an Olympic sport but it would certainly be entertaining

 

[Joonhi93]

I don't think it's possible, I don't think people pay to see a "Sport" where it would take hours of viewing

 

[_xgeb_]

This is a good question...poker requires strategy, intelligence, study your opponents, understand how the game is going on...like other sports.
So, what´s your oppinion...should poker be an Olympic Sport?
Remember that: prizes will be medals, worldwide fame, but no money (you will receive money only if your country´s olympic committee or your country´s government do that).

I think no. But we never know

 

[CallmeFloppy]

As much as I love poker, I do not want to see it as an Olympic sport.

Unlike chess, you cannot create "to the best of our ability" equal opportunity for all participants. In chess, everyone gets the same pieces on the same field with the same information available.

Poker has so many intangibles that you can never create anything close to a level playing field for everyone. The WSOP main event is a great example, does anyone really believe this one tournament is consistently won by the best player?

 

[fastfash25]

Hell to tha nah..to tha nah nah nah....lol. horrible question. Poker isnt a sport. Look up the definition of sport and poker doesn't even resemble one. It's just a game guys. A mostly luck game 60/40 imo. If we let poker in...where do we stop? We having checkers, dominos, monopoly or even go fish? Lol.

 

[besplatnee]

Until there is a governing body, the prospect of a poker tournament at the Olympics cannot be seriously considered.

 

[KozakAlex]

Interesting suggestion. But poker players are very fond of making money. Although many people love fame, because I think the best will agree to participate in this venture and it would be very interesting.

 

[Luvart]

It would be an interesting idea, but I think that there are some other mental sports that have priority before we get to poker.

Like chess for example, or bridge. Or even backgammon.

I don't see poker being an Olympic sport in the near future.

 

[davidkimtai89]

Olympia is a high mountain , who have ability to hike to the top to be a winner , you know how to climb the high mountain , like a strong athletes , on the journey we also need to surpass obstacles , compettition require many talent and skills .

 

[MAGICUZ]

I think no, poker and sports are different things.

 

[WrongUsername]

No way!! sports=movement mostly besides chess

 

[joebenigno]

for sure not IMO. how would you settle who gets the gold? cash game with the biggest stack, which effectively turns into a tournament? WAY too much variance to crown a GOAT

 

[navicula]

If poker is in the Olympics, this is good news for me.

So far, poker has always been a debate about gambling or not.

 

[bruno1234poker]

Yeah!

 

[stank12345]

No it should not be a Olympic sport there is no great physical aspect to poker

 

[Blackchipp]

yes

sport of mind, have to go to olympics games like chezz:icon_bigs

 

[ristoc]

First of all it is some kind of gambling. Second thing is that poker is not 100% skill game, big part of a game is based on luck. Answer is simple: No.