Interesting email I received today......................

[Alan Millhone]

Hello everyone:

Today I received an interesting email from Mr. Ray Shelly. Below I quote what he wrote to me...................


" The U.S. Chess Federation announced today that they would do drug tests prior or during all major tournaments and matches. They are trying to become an Olympic sport.

That was on CNN today. The announcers wondered just what drug would enhance a players skill as they laughed at the thought of chess players having to do a drug test.

I realized that high level chess and checker players are assumed by others to be drug free because it wouldn't be in character or in anyway help them to be good players. " Good Checkerplayers don't use drugs" would be just one more of many marketing reasons why children should learn to play checkers."

Your Friend:
Ray Shelly


Personally I think it would be great to see checkers become a recognized Olympic mental sport:-) I found Mr. Shelly's email interesting. I have heard of some mind enhancing herbs out there, but am not familiar with any mind enhancing drugs?

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation
===============================================
Checkers------ " The Mind Sport Alternative To Video Games"
===============================================

[Patrick Parker]

you can take certain things to make yourself more focused
and to also help you retain ALOT of information

the first sets of substances i believe are legal
the second are prescription drugs that some people take
no need to name the names

also the prescription drugs themselves are fine for the people that
they are for....but i am referring to the people who take them for different reasons....

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Alan, I can prove that there are very strong special drugs, though not very healthy, which improve your mind abilities. You can consult from pharmatisits. This is special "groups" which have some special components.

Concerning effect - these drugs can be compared with dopings for phisical sports. Both improve your abilities and both destroy your health.

This drugs have some chemical ingradients, and probably Dr. Beckwith can professionally consult us here.

In order to improve myself mind abilities before round, I am using coffee, chocolate, candies (all recommended) and cigaretts (not recommended )

Regards,

Alex

[jimloy]

Bridge went through that phase. And an American player and her partner ended up forfeiting matches in a World Championship Tournament because of her weight loss medication. The player had repeatedly asked tournament officials if the medication was OK, and got no answer until the forfeiture.

The Olympics are probably never going to allow the various mind sports in, regardless. So, it is only a dream and a big-time bother, for mind sports organizations and their players.

The only mind-enhancing drug that I have heard of is vodka. Doesn't work for me though.

[john reade]

Bridge and chess are already in.

So we needn't give up hope just yet.

[jimloy]

No chess or bridge in Beijing in 2008. Perhaps they are winter sports? They are both recognized by the Olympic Committee as sports. But, as far as I can tell, chess and bridge have not even been okayed as demonstration (nonmedal) sports in any past or future Olympics.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I also received a private message today: "Maybe one day one of us wins in lottery ?" I remember - In Soviet Union often part of price was lottery tickets.

Merry Christmas to everyone !

Respectfully,

Alex Moiseyev

[Ingo_Zachos]

Chess has not even got a demonstration ty...

All efforts by FIDE so far failed, altough chess meets nearly all the criteria needed, such as federations in more then 50 countries and all continents.
The IOC simply doesn't think that mental health is as important as the physical health.

"Mind sports will never be recognized as real sports" (Jacques Rogge).

Chess Olympiads r a different matter:
they r staged every two years by the FIDE, and r not part of Olympic Games. It is just another name for a Team Competition, as the word Olympiad is not under any copyright...


Personally I believe that it will not become an olympic sport, and it is good that way, as for instance doping tests looks really ridiculous



Greetinx from sunny Dortmund,

Ingo Zachos