What Constitutes A Sport? My Simple Definition

[Yavin4]

Every year around the 4th, Nathan's hot dogs on Coney Island sponsors a hot dog eating competition. Some go as far as saying that these competitions are a sport. Inevitably, an argument ensues about what is and what is not a sport. Is golf a sport? Is ice skating a sport? Why can't food eating be a sport?

So, what constitutes a sport? My simple definition is that a sport requires a certain level of physical exertion and it must include an element of defense. To be a sport, you should have the ability to physically stop your opponent from winning and you are required to physically overcome your opponent's efforts to prevent you from winning.


Everything else is either a competitive exhibition or a game. Golf is a competitive exhibition of skills, same for track and field, swimming, and ice skating. Those are not sports.