What is the difference between sports and games?

January 7, 2006
What is the difference between sports and games? A sport is a physical activity carried out under
an agreed set of rules, with a recreational purpose: for competition or self-enjoyment or a
combination of these. A game is a recreational activity involving one or more players, defined by
a goal that the players try to reach, and some set of rules to play it. Games are played primarily
for entertainment or enjoyment. The difference of purpose differentiates sport from game,...

Hi fallstaf,

FIRST, I pulled definitions for you from the Internet, read them
briefly, then refer back to them:

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DEFINITION OF SPORT:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sport

1) Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and

often engaged in competitively.

2) A particular form of this activity.

3) An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a

set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

4) An active pastime; recreation.

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DEFINITION OF GAME:

1) An activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime: party

games; word games.

2)
a) A competitive activity or sport in which players contend with
each other according to a set of rules: the game of basketball;
the game of gin rummy.

b) A single instance of such an activity: We lost the first game.

c) GAMES: An organized athletic program or contest: track-and-field

games; took part in the winter games. [like the Olympics]

d) A period of competition or challenge: It was too late in the game

to change the schedule of the project.

3)
 a) The total number of points required to win a game: One hundred
points is game in bridge.

b) The score accumulated at any given time in a game: The game is

now 14 to 12.

4) The equipment needed for playing certain games: packed the children's
games in the car.

5) A particular style or manner of playing a game: improved my tennis

game with practice.

[there are more meanings to "game" but they are not relevent]

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DEFINITION OF HOBBY:

1) An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation

and engaged in primarily for pleasure.

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You're confused because the word GAME has several meanings. You can
play a game of sports, but you can't sport a game. To illustrate
this, think of the Olympics. They are called the OLYMPIC GAMES. All
the competitions are in specific Sports.

Olympic Games - Official Website

http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/index_uk.asp

The GAME is that world-class athletes --all good at different SPORTS

--COMPETE for medals, and future endorsements.

Pocket Billiards is a sport, and you can play different games [rule
sets] within the sport: 8-ball, 9-ball, etc.. [for those that
disagree, Pocket Billiards has been declared a Sport by the **Olympic
Committee --see below]

Football is a sport, and when you watch it, it's a game of football.

When I play Cards, which is a game, I play a "card game" or a "game of cards."

Swimming is a sport, and there is no game of Swimming. Even a Swim

gathering is not a game, it's a Swim Meet. This is the same for
fishing, rollerskating, skiing and similiar activities.

Stamp collecting, like knitting, is a hobby. There is no physical

exertion, no game aspect, it can be done "at your leisure."

In a game you can blame the referee (or the luck of the cards). In a
sport, win or lose, you always put forth your best effort.

Chess is competetive, and not physically demanding, so it is a game.

A game always has rules. Sports require skills. Uniforms are worn in
games, no matter what the sport.
Baseball is the sport, the "World Series" is a Baseball Game.

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Here's a streaming video describing the very thing you are asking:

Learn about the difference between as game and a sport, featuring

poker and gymnastics.