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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| High Court rules bridge is not a sport | High Court rules bridge is not a sport |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bridge players who wanted the popular card game recognised as a sport have lost their High Court battle. | Bridge players who wanted the popular card game recognised as a sport have lost their High Court battle. |
| The English Bridge Union had challenged a decision by Sport England not to recognise it as a sport because it does not involve physical activity. | |
| But Mr Justice Dove ruled against the union, dismissing its bid for a judicial review. | But Mr Justice Dove ruled against the union, dismissing its bid for a judicial review. |
| The union said it was "very disappointed" and was reviewing its options for its next course of action. | |
| Bridge is played by four players in two partnerships. It uses a standard 52-card pack and involves betting on the number of tricks each side will win. | |
| 'Erred in law' | 'Erred in law' |
| The English Bridge Union (EBU) had wanted Sport England to reclassify the game, which would have made it eligible for government and lottery funding. | The English Bridge Union (EBU) had wanted Sport England to reclassify the game, which would have made it eligible for government and lottery funding. |
| It had claimed the ordinary and natural meaning of "sport" in the 1996 Royal Charter, which established Sport England, was sufficiently broad that it did not necessarily require physical activity. | |
| The international game of bridge | The international game of bridge |
| Lawyers told the High Court the game was based on rules, fairness and competition like other sports and was available to older people, to whom it brought a sense of inclusion and community. | Lawyers told the High Court the game was based on rules, fairness and competition like other sports and was available to older people, to whom it brought a sense of inclusion and community. |
| But the judge said Sport England's current policy defined sport as involving "physical activity" and its move to reject reclassification of bridge was right. | But the judge said Sport England's current policy defined sport as involving "physical activity" and its move to reject reclassification of bridge was right. |
| The issue he had considered was whether Sport England officials had "erred in law" when refusing to classify bridge as a sport, the judge said - not the "broad, somewhat philosophical question" as to whether or not bridge is a sport. | |
| During the case Sport England had argued bridge was no more of a sporting activity than "sitting at home, reading a book". | During the case Sport England had argued bridge was no more of a sporting activity than "sitting at home, reading a book". |
| 'Fight against inactivity' | |
| Speaking after the decision, Sport England's director of sport, Phil Smith, said: "Sport England's job is to help the nation to be more physically active, a role given to us by our Royal Charter. | |
| "We recognise that many people enjoy playing bridge, but that's not going to play a part in the fight against inactivity." | |
| Ian Payn, vice-chairman of the EBU, said the organisation was "very disappointed" about the decision which "affects participants in many sports other than bridge". | |
| The EBU's legal representative Alex Peebles said: "We feel that we put forward a strong case." |