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THE GAME OF bridge may flex the intellectual muscles but the EU’s top court ruled today that it is not a sport because it involves “negligible” physical activity.
Beloved by seniors and requiring a sharp memory, a keen analytical brain and near telepathic understanding with one’s playing partner, bridge is one of the world’s most popular card games.
But the European Court of Justice ruled that these mental gymnastics were not enough to classify the game as a sport, rejecting a claim by the English Bridge Union for value-added tax (VAT) relief on tournament entry fees.
The court said that for the purposes of VAT rules, the “ordinary meaning” of sport should apply, namely activities that are “characterised by a not negligible physical element”.
“The court concludes that an activity such as duplicate bridge, which is characterised by a physical element that appears to be negligible, is not covered by the concept of ‘sport’ within the meaning of the VAT Directive,” the court ruled.
Duplicate bridge is a variation on traditional contract bridge that is widely used in competitions.
The court said it accepted the game involved “logic, memory and planning, and may constitute an activity beneficial to the mental and physical health of regular participants”, but ruled that this was trumped by the physical activity requirement.
Devoted players however could still have a trick up their sleeve: the court said its ruling did not preclude that the game could be covered by another VAT exemption for “cultural services”.
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I think this is Ireland’s first photograph I’m open to corrections though
http://www.irishhistorylinks.net/pages/OldDublin/HardwickStreet_1848.jpg
Sorry it’s 1848
We are publishing a book in the coming weeks and has a picture of Ireland from 1843, the earliest we believe to be late 1830′.
Any evidence?
Or this one from 1860 of O’Connell St again I think the long exposure gives the impression of no people / horses etc
Thanks for posting those Robert, fascinating photos.
Fantastic pictures Robert!
What about the two men sitting at a table on the right??
How do you know they are men? Women didn’t have much rights back then but they were allowed sit at tables.
I imagine them sitting at a table playing cards or dominoes, this would’ve been a predominantly male pastime. Then again there’s no mention of these people so it’s likely my eyes are playing tricks on me!
Where what pic ?
Very well spotted Fiona!!
How about some of the very first colour photos from the Albert Kahn Collection. http://www.albertkahn.co.uk/photos/Europe/Ireland_1.jpg
They did a collectors edition book called the wonderful world of Albert Kahn, it has a whole bunch of photos from all over the world, amazing to see the cultures preserved in it. The time period is just before the world wars and the collection of photos is worth checking out.
How about the first ever photograph: View from the Window at Le Gras, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, ca. 1826
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/permanent/windows/southeast/joseph_nicephore_niepce.html
So apparently, there was a massive jump in quality from inception in 1826 to 1860 and then no discernible improvements until the introduction of colour in the 1960s-1970s.
Incorrect … The exposure & development processes dramatically changed and speeded up…
I was on about the end product more than the process.
I hate the way that the Americans have hijacked this term but this is AWESOME dude
This was taken just six years after the events depicted in Hugo’s Les Miserables.
Very interesting photos thanks for posting. I follow Historical Pics on Twitter which is usually very good as well.
Thanks for the tip Simon
Just followed it and looked at the all their photos very interesting !
So the first ever photo of people came 12 years after the first ever photo?
What did everyone do in the pub for those 12 years, if they weren’t Instagramming the shite out of each other’s cocktails/food or takin selfies every 3 mins?
And to think photography has come so far that we now filter pictures of our dinner….
This was shown on QI ages ago….
So?
This photograph has been known for a very long time. It is written about in ‘The Photograph’ by Graham Clarke, published in 1997. And I’m sure I have seen it in earlier texts.
So it seems this isn’t really news. Or perhaps the news is that someone has tweeted about an old, famous, photograph.
Save the Bah Humbug for Christmas , Neil. It isn’t even Halloween yet, mate.
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