Chess and the Olympics
A long-running attempt to make chess and official sport at the Olympics has not yet been successful.[1]
The 2024 Olympics are being hosted by Paris, France, which is the second city (after London) to host the modern Olympics three times. France has traditionally been very pro-chess, even having a thriving chess club when Thomas Jefferson stayed there in the late 1700s.
The sport of curling has been described as "chess on ice."[1]
Physical element
While chess is criticized by opponents as lacking a physical element, in fact games do quicken the pulse, and tournaments can become contests of physical endurance. Studies have shown that top players lose weight during high-stakes tournaments. The sport of chess is comparable to some riflery events which require both intense concentration and physical fitness.