The arrows have been sharpened, beer guts refuelled and waistlines expanded. Darts has once again taken centre stage as the British nation holds its breath for the World Championship, this year being held at the famous Alexandra Palace in north London.

Around 80 years ago, Ally Pally was the historic first setting for TV broadcasting. Little did he know it at the time but John Logie Baird had created a technological monster.

Nearly a double and triple later (century that is) and the north London venue is playing host to the hideous spectacle that is darts. You may argue the pros and cons but darts continues to irritate and annoy sports purists.

'Watching darts players wobble onto the oche like kids' jellies, bend their elbows and then take careful aim is, without doubt, the most repulsive sight on the planet'


On an evolutionary scale, it is right up there with 15th-century archery. In fact some of us would rather watch bungee jumping or knitting than the talents of Phil ‘The Power' Taylor. It may be a joyous sight for lager louts (or maybe that should read as larger louts), but darts is not a sporting feast for the eyes.

Some would regard darts players as overweight sloths with a fondness for drinking. They wobble onto the oche like kids' jellies, bend their elbows and then take careful aim. It is, without doubt, the most repulsive sight on the planet.

With the current debate raging over child obesity and the nation’s health, darts is certainly not the cure to our country's ills. As one settles in front of the festive TV, the spectacle is more of a pain than panacea. London will be an Olympic city in five years' time and darts remains an insult to sporting fans' intelligence.

Sport and fitness are top of the government’s agenda and darts has no legitimate claim as a sport. It is abhorrent to the eye and no more deserving of Olympic status than ballroom dancing or Monopoly.

What, I wonder, has happened to children who rushed home from school, threw their coats onto street corners and played football, improvised cricket or even hop scotch? Then, sport was physical, fun and challenging.

Darts was designed for the lazy, lacklustre and lethargic. It is the ultimate pub game, a direct descendant of dominoes and skittles. When Andy Jenkins, Wayne Mardle, Peter Manley, Alan Tabern and 13-time world champion Taylor send the tungsten flying, it is, to quote William Shakespeare, 'the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune'.