MIND SPORTS OLYMPIAD

 

Ok, so just what is a Mind Sports Olympiad? It is an annual get-together of people who like to take part in competitions known as ‘mind sports’. The most obvious next question is ‘What is a mind sport?’ Well, a mind sport is any game or other potentially competitive pastime in which the competitive element is essentially mental rather than physical in its Nature.

 

Mind sports include well-known board games such as chess, draughts & backgammon, card games like bridge, cribbage & poker, and some more abstract pursuits such as creative thinking, intelligence and mental calculations.

 

Mind Sports Olympiads began in England in 1997, and they are held annually in August – generally during the ten-day period running up to and including the late bank holiday (the last Monday of that month). The movement is growing, and MSOs have been held in several other countries – including Singapore, the Czech Republic and Korea.

 

Events are individually priced, and there is a ‘maximum fee’ which is payable in order to play as many events as you want – as long as they don’t clash on the schedule. As there are also concessions for younger competitors, this is excellent value for money as well as being great fun. With a usual layout of around 100 events to choose from in 30-40 different mind sports, there’s bound to be something to take your fancy. All you need to know about the MSO can be found at the website at www.msoworld.com and, although I am a competitor rather than an organiser, I would be happy to discuss any of the aspects of the MSO with you via my e-mail at george972453@yahoo.co.uk. Contact details of some of the staff can also be found on the website.

 

If you like taking part in competitions, playing to win or just playing for fun, come and join the mind sports movement. An MSO hosts several World Championships, but beginners are equally welcome. It’s not unknown for someone to learn how to play a game in the morning and become the World Champion on the same afternoon!

 

Take a look at the website, drop the staff or myself a line, and maybe next year you might come and join in the fun. If you do decide to write to me, please put ‘MSO’ in the subject line – I wouldn’t want your message to be lost among the 300+ ‘spam’ e-mails I get each day. I would be more than happy to guide you through the way a Mind Sports Olympiad operates, and even the rules (and some occasional strategies) for the games which are played there.

 

Whatever your standard of play, or even if you want to learn a new game or two. It’s well worth a look-in. Go on, what have you got to lose?