CHESS RECOGNISED AS A SPORT
This is not just urgent but also very important, with the deadline of Friday next week! A few people may have seen this on the WCU website or Facebook but this email is to make sure everyone joins in...to make the initiative a success.
Tim and Sarah Kett have initiated getting chess recognised as a sport by the Welsh Assembly Government. This has been now taken on by the WCU. To help this succeed, please could you complete the online form required. I've just done it and it took me three minutes. Twelve minutes for a family of four (whether everyone plays chess or not!). Everyone can do this, as explained below.
Please support the campaign of the Welsh Chess Union (WCU) to persuade the WAG to classify chess in Wales as a sport.
The reasons why this is important are:
- chess in Wales would then have a Minister and a WAG department to champion chess in Wales;
- additional funding streams would open up;
- chess in Wales would have the same standing as every other country in Europe except for Ireland, Belgium and the rest of the United Kingdom;
- it will be easier for schools to introduce chess, with all its benefits, to its pupils.
In order to contribute to the campaign please take the following steps: Go to the online form by either typing “Consultation: Priorities for the Seventh Senedd: Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee” into your search engine (eg Google) or click on the following link https://senedd.wales/committees/culture-communications-cymraeg-and-sport-committee/consultation-priorities-for-the-seventh-senedd-culture-communications-cymraeg-and-sport-committee/
Click on the purple button “Next” by scrolling down to the bottom of the insert page.
Click on “Personal” and then “Next” (unless you have an official role in the WCU, one of the Zones or Clubs, in which case you can choose between “Personal” or “Commercial”).
Follow the instructions on the form for questions 1 to 8. (Note: every member of our family, including your children, can contribute to the consultation.)
Ignore questions 9 and 10, but complete question 11 “Do you have any specific suggestions for committee work within the areas of culture, communications, Cymraeg and sport?”.
Copy and paste - "Classify chess as a sport in Wales" Beneath this, in the same box, copy and paste the sample answer below into the same box (changing it in any way you wish to add your own perspective).
Sample answer
I would like the committee to classify chess as a sport because:
- this would bring it in line with most other countries, particularly European ones. The UK, Ireland and Belgium are the only European countries that do not classify chess as a sport. Sport is devolved and would make Wales distinct from the other home nations but in line with most European ones.
- thousands of people in Wales play chess either online or “over the board”.
How is the Welsh Assembly going to support these people? If chess is classified as a sport, then it falls under a Welsh Assembly department with a minister. Otherwise, it is not clear where it fits and therefore no one takes any interest or responsibility for this highly popular activity. If it is not classified as a sport that what is it?
Sport is on the Welsh Government’s Curriculum for Wales. If chess is classified as a sport, then it can be taught and played in schools, providing pupils with an opportunity to benefit from the educational and competitive qualities of playing chess no matter a child’s physical or intellectual abilities, their social background or gender, nor their age or additional learning needs. There are studies showing that there are educational benefits from introducing chess to children, primary school children in particular, including mathematical, problem solving, improved concentration, self-assessment, decision making and behaviour. There are no studies showing it is detrimental to children.
Chess covers many of the same qualities as the other recognised sports listed on the Sports Wales list. The rating system of chess means that players, no matter what their ability, can monitor their progression and experience a sense of achievement as the continue to play and, hopefully, improve. Chess can be played individually or as a team in clubs and tournaments throughout Wales, and indeed the World, providing opportunities for building team spirit, and interactions across social backgrounds, ages, genders, races, languages and cultures.
**What would the advantages be? **
- There would be a Minister and Welsh Assembly Government department to champion chess.
- Funding streams would open up.
- Chess would have a higher priority in schools and other institutions, such as facilities for the elderly.
- Opportunities for people of all ages (from 5 to 95), physical abilities, intellectual prowess (with or without additional learning needs), social background, and gender to participate together no matter the weather.
What would the disadvantages be? None!
End of sample answer.....then you submit the form.
Thank you for your participation. We need everyone!