Does the Welsh Government have a process for designating an activity as either a sport or a game?
The formal recognition of sports is considered through the UK Sports Councils' Recognition Policy, which is administered jointly by Sport Wales, Sport England, Sportscotland, Sport Northern Ireland and UK Sport. When considering whether an activity can be recognised as a sport, the Sports Councils apply the Council of Europe's European Sports Charter which defines sport as “activities involving physical exertion and skill undertaken for recreation, competition, or the improvement of health and fitness”. The Welsh Government does not have a separate process for designating an activity as either a sport or a game.
The UK Sports Councils' sports recognition policy is currently under review. The revised policy and framework are expected to be finalised by the end of 2026, following which applications for recognition are anticipated to reopen.