Carlsen Passed Over for Norwegian Athletics Prize

In choosing its athlete-of-the-year, Norges Idrettsforbund, Norway’s national athletics federation, says that Magnus Carlsen doesn’t qualify. Despite winning the World Chess Championship and support from other top athletes in the country, Carlsen was left off the list of nominees.

Responding to public pressure about the situation, the leader of the selecting jury stated, “Carlsen is not part of Norwegian athletics.”

Carlsen was nominated for name-of-the-year and in the open class.

Chess is recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee. Norway’s Chess federation, however, isn’t a member of the athletics federation.