Chess.

[Khandro]

Rishi Sunak has a plan to revive chess in Britain. The PM is set to announce half-a-million pounds funding for the English Chess Federation. The money could be used to send teams to international tournaments, install chess tables in parks and teach the game to school kids.

Do you approve of this initiative ?

[brainiac]

What's not to like?

[ClareTG0ld]

// What's not to like //

It's not nearly enough :P

At least make it £640,000 for the memes :)

[Hopkirk]

Is it April 1st?

[douglas9401]

He's only out to confirm that we're merely pawns in the game.

[naomi24]

Splendid idea.

[Khandro]

I didn't want to pose it as a leading question, but I think it's an excellent idea.

It might be an antidote to these computer games la jeunesse seems to hooked on, which the little I know of, seem to be centered around soldiers & robots zapping one another.

Apparently since 'The Queen's Gambit' has been been such a success on Netflix (if you haven't seen it I urge you to do so) lots of girls are taking up chess now as well.

[naomi24]

Khandro, I can't remember not being able to play chess. I don't remember being taught.

[ClareTG0ld]

// Apparently since 'The Queen's Gambit' has been been such a success on Netflix (if you haven't seen it I urge you to do so) lots of girls are taking up chess now as well. //

Absolutely right, it's totally brilliant. And yeah I certainly heard that, I hope it has a long-term effect too :)

Also, Naomi, do you play much these days?

[naomi24]

ClareTG0ld, not as much as I used to. Do You?

I would also recommend The Queen's Gambit.

[ClareTG0ld]

On and off. I sometimes wish I'd taken it a little more seriously as a child, but there we are.

[naomi24]

I'm big on teaching children. A very worthy skill - in my opinion.

[Ryzen]

Chess skills are life skills.

[Gromit]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66392630

[steg]

Chess is to complicated for the english… just give them a bat and a baw

[-SharonA-]

I don't approve. There's more important initiatives.

[anneasquith]

PM with priorities. Good to see .

[Arksided]

I like the idea, I love Chess. My Dad taught me when I was a kid and played quite often until I had a winning streak of fourteen games.
Later I used to play my youngest Brother quite often on a fantastic glass and frosted set until he moved out into the sticks.

[ladybirder]

Loved it. Brilliant game. Makes you use your brain. Being nuts about the guy I played with helped;-)
Sadly haven't played for many years.
Agree on The Queen's Gambit, a must watch.

[Gromit]

Half a mill for Chess is welcomed, but the Government’s record on supporting sport in our communities is very poor.

215 school playing fields have been sold off since 2010.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6884191/More-200-school-playing-fields-sold-nine-years.html

Also, sports facilities are also closing in large numbers.

// Athletics has lost the biggest percentage of sites, with 91 fewer in March 2016 than in March 2012, a 15% fall.

The figures show there were 1,729 fewer tennis facilities and 3,180 fewer sports grounds, stadiums and pitches. //

[Old_Geezer]

Investment in sport or intellectual games is ok, provided it is at anappropriate level. I'm unsure why chess in particular was chosen. The schoolkid part is good. No harm in encouraging mental exercise. Park furniture is more of a local government thing. Unsure whether the international chess committee, or whatever they're called, needs funding.