HC Deb 20 June 1997 vol 296 cc325-6W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what criteria determine which sports are recognized by the Sports Council; and for what reasons chess is not an approved sport. [4236]

Mr. Banks

The United Kingdom and the Home Country Sports Councils have adopted a system of formal "recognition" of activities, primarily to identify those with which the Councils should be associated for the purposes of providing grant aid and services. The identification of these activities is based on a number of criteria, broadly based on the following principles:

  • physical skills;
  • physical effort;
  • accessibility;
  • rules and organisation;
  • strategy and tactics;
  • essential purpose;
  • physical challenge;
  • risk;
  • "uniqueness";
  • level of participation; and
  • other issues (eg. political, moral, ethical etc.).

Chess is not a recognised activity because, in the opinion of the United Kingdom and the Home Country Sports Councils, it does not meet a sufficient number of the criteria outlined above, in particular those in respect of physical skills, effort and challenge. These criteria are, however, kept under review and revised from time to time and I am currently studying them very carefully.