Why Scrabble Deserves a Place in the World Olympics

Written by: Ebimunu Akintola (A Sociologist and scrabble enthusiast)

For decades, Scrabble has evolved far beyond a living-room pastime. Tye records are there. It is a mental sport that demands logic, vocabulary mastery, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking and these are all the hallmarks of Olympic-level competition. Yet despite its global reach and structured governance, Scrabble remains outside the Olympic Games. 

The question now is: why not include it?

Well, let me take you through this my few facts:

1. Scrabble Promotes Global Unity Through Language

Just like football or athletics, scrabble brings together players from every continent. Whether in Lagos, London, Ireland, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Kenya, South Africa, Australia, Las Vegas, India or Los Angeles, the game is played with the same board and the same rules. Its universality bridges linguistic and cultural gaps which are precisely the Olympic spirit of unity in diversity. Except otherwise.

2. True Test of Mental Excellence

Scrabble is more than memorizing words. It challenges players to think ahead, calculate probabilities, manage time, and adapt strategy under pressure. The level of mental stamina required to win a world championship game rivals that of physical athletes competing in endurance sports. 

There are numerous Pro scrabblers in the world like Nigel Richards, Wellington Jigereh, Tacha, David Eldar, Enoch Nwali Will Anderson, etc that have loads of comments on how scrabble has mentally shaped them

3. A Global Competitive Structure

The World English-language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) oversees a fully organized competitive calendar with World Championships, National Leagues, and Youth Divisions. Dozens of countries send teams annually, and some nations, like Nigeria, boast world champions. This existing structure mirrors that of other Olympic sports. This is a fact that is crystal globally.

4. It Encourages Education & Youth Development

Scrabble improves literacy, cognitive ability, and problem-solving skills. Many schools now integrate it into academic programs as a brain sport. Recognizing it at the Olympics would inspire millions of young minds worldwide to engage in educational play.

5. It Balances the Olympic Vision

The modern Olympics celebrate not only strength and speed but also skill and intellect. If chess and eSports are gaining traction toward Olympic inclusion, then Scrabble - a sport combining language, logic, and calculation, equally deserves a place on that global stage in all honesty.

Speaking through the minds of global Pro scrabblers, scrabble may use tiles instead of track shoes, but it embodies competition, discipline, and excellence, and these are the Hallmarks and values the Olympics stand for. Recognizing it officially would be a major victory for the mind sports movement and a proud moment for nations like Nigeria that have raised world-class champions.