London judge to rule on bridge's sporting status

    Bridge, also known as contract bridge, is a "trick-taking" game involving four players in two competing partnerships and is one of the world's most popular card games
    Bridge, also known as contract bridge, is a "trick-taking" game involving four players in two competing partnerships and is one of the world's most popular card games (AFP Photo/Philippe Huguen)

    London (AFP) - Whether or not the card game bridge should be classed as a sport is set to be the subject of a legal ruling in London's High Court later this year, the English Bridge Union said Monday.

    Th union is taking legal action against Sport England, one of the organisations which distributes funds raised by Britain's national lottery to a variety of sporting organisations.

    English Bridge Union (EBU) officials instituted an action against Sport England after the funding agency refused to recognise bridge as a sport.

    Now the EBU have said their judicial review claim is listed to be heard at the High Court on September 22.

    The case made initial headlines in April when a judge ruled the EBU had a claim worthy of being heard.

    Bridge chiefs have said that if the card game is recognised as a sport, it will have "beneficial consequences" for their pursuit.

    An EBU spokesman added Monday that Sport England had been "inconsistent" in their stance.

    "The EBU sought the judicial review after Sport England refused to recognise bridge as a sport, a position which the EBU believes to be inconsistent with both the wishes of Parliament, and the opinion of significant international sporting organisations," said the spokesman.

    "When ruling on what constituted a sport in the 2011 Charities Act, Parliament specifically included 'mind sports', stating that sport comprised 'activities which promote health involving physical or mental skill or exertion'."

    The spokesman added that bridge required "undoubted levels of mental skill" and had "known health benefits" and was covered by the definition.

    "The stance taken by Sport England in refusing to recognise bridge as a sport is also at odds with the position taken by the International Olympic Committee... the European Union, and a number of European countries," he explained.

    "The EBU believes that playing bridge has a number of benefits to society, and by being recognised as a sport this will offer greater opportunities for the public to be exposed to these benefits.

    "As well as the increased exposure that the status of 'sport' would afford to bridge, it would also enable funding opportunities to support the activity at all levels, particularly at grassroots and junior levels."