After a fortnight of sporting excellence at London 2012, the nation is still infused with patriotic euphoria. The Olympics , it seems has inspired many people to get off the sofa and get on their bikes, hit the running tracks and dive into swimming pools. This of course could be a knee jerk reaction in the mistaken belief that they can be the next Jessica Ennis or Bradley Wiggins or rather it could be a serious attempt to have a complete lifestyle change. But taking part in sport is not all about premium sprinting or whizzing around a velodrome as you will see below. There are some alternative sporting activities around the world which to some might seem rather bizarre. Here’s a few of them we’d love to see more of.
Wife Carrying
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No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This is a genuine sport! First introduced in Finland (where else), the objective of the game is, as you would have expected, to carry your wife across a course in the fastest possible time. There are a range of different methods and carrying techniques to employ, including the fireman’s lift, piggy back and Estonian style (where the female hangs upside down by her legs whilst being carried). Championships are generally held in Sonkajarvi (Finland) and the states of Montana and Wisconsin in the US. The official length of the track is 253m and in Finland the prize is generally the wife’s weight in beer. Get training!
Shin Kicking
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Here we have another strange sport. Shin kicking is one which hails from the Cotswolds, UK. In fact it derives from the “Cotswold Games” circa 1600. The objective is to knock your opponent down by kicking his shins. Points are scored for each knock down and the winner is decided by a best of three rule. There’s really no skill necessary. Participants require only an enthusiastic desire to maim.
Freestyle Running
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This one has had quite a lot of media attention in recent years, but we feel it’s worth including just because it’s so cool to watch. As the name suggests, it involves running. Freestyle. It’s not just any kind of running though as this involves jumping off roofs of houses, sliding down stairs and all manner of risky pursuits involving buildings and other structures. No special equipment required although a set of knee and elbow pads may cushion some of the inevitable blows. Think of it as something akin to skateboarding but without the skateboard.
Toe Wrestling
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This delightful sport originated from Staffordshire, UK. It actually started in a pub and is still going strong today! It’s played, as you would have guessed with the toes. The objective is to push your opponent’s toe down to the ground. It’s essentially like arm wrestling, or thumb warring but with the feet. A tournament is held annually at the Bentley Brook Inn, Derbyshire, where the reigning champion is one Alan “feisty” Nash.
Bossaball
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Invented in Spain, “Bossaball” is basically Volleyball with a difference, as it incorporates aspects of football and gymnastics. The game is played not on sand but instead on a specially constructed trampoline. The format is 3 to 5 players with the inclusion of the trampoline allowing them to gain extraordinary height in order to smash the ball. Unlike volleyball, both hands and feet can be used. The game is very popular in Brazil as well as Spain.
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