E-sports, mind sports and the Olympics: What is a sport, anyway?

Most of us could describe a sport if asked. It might involve physical exertion of some kind – running, jumping, swimming – an element of competition, and a certain amount of blood, sweat and tears. But is the game of bridge a sport? Or chess? Both of these activities were included in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) list of recognized sports – a list of sports that could (but not necessary would) be featured in future Olympic Games. The term “mind sports” was coined for bridge and chess, as well as for Go, checkers and Chinese Chess by the World Mind Sports Federation. That federation organized World Mind Games just after the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

But what about video games? Do League of Legends players have a claim to be sportsmen and women?