They ?-- who are " they " ?--blanket statements and generalisations , supply no factual information. ( I of course, can quote instances, but the exception ,not the rule )
There are those that say( Sports announcers in particular )that if it doesnt have a ball-- then its not a sport-- my response ?-- what about Ice Hockey ?-- and -- the " sport " of Kings-- Horse racing .
Is not the very definition of " sporting event " the skills of one individual ( or more ) pitted against another ? ( pitted, interesting word-- a fighting / sporting arena )