Sports tourism is alive and well in Bermuda. We have seen swimmers, lacrosse players, runners and golfers and this weekend, more than 350 bridge players will descend on the island for a week to do battle at the tables at the Fairmont Southampton.

But is bridge even a sport, you ask? According to lawyers in the United Kingdom, bridge is “a game based on rules, fairness and competition like other sports”. Sadly, the High Court ruled that according to the present policy of Sport England, sport is defined as involving “physical activity” and as such, bridge could not be classified as a sport.

Best not to mention this when 350 people are filling the large ballroom at the Fairmont Southampton! While definitely a non-contact sport, most bridge players would agree that the game is as competitive as any and while the physical activity might be lacking, the mental activity more than makes up for that. Bridge is a true sport of the mind.

The Bermuda Regional Bridge Tournament is in its 56th year having been held every year since 1960.

We have groups from Nova Scotia, Toronto, New Jersey and New York, and attract players from around the world. We are thrilled to welcome Jeff Meckstroth — a multiple world champion. We must be doing something right to attract the best of the best!

Kathleen Sharpe Keane is Bermuda Regional Chair 2017