We all know about popular sports like football, basketball or tennis, but there are unusual and weird sports that most of us didn’t know about, which are held annually with participants from all over the world. Think wrestling is weird? You’re in for a ride today, because how bizarre these sports are will leave you baffled! Without further ado, we present the 7 weirdest sports from around the world that you, or us, for that matter, didn’t know existed!
Bog snorkeling
Bog snorkeling is a sporting event in which players complete two consecutive lengths of a 60 yards water-filled trench through a peat bog in the shortest time possible. They can only wear traditional snorkel, diving masks and flippers, and they complete the sport relying on flippers, without swimming! The sport originated in Llanwrtyd Well, Wales in 1976. The present world record in men’s category is set by Neil Rutter with a time of 1 minute 18.81 seconds in the year 2018; whereas the record for women was set by Kirsty Johnson is 1 minute 22.56 seconds in the year 2014. Both of these records were set at the Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, in Wales.
The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake
The exact origin of cheese rolling is unclear, but it is believed to have originated back in the 15th century. One of the weirdest sports ever, Cooper’s Hill cheese-rolling and wake is an annual event held at the end of May in the Cooper’s Hills of England. In this sport, a round of Double Gloucester cheese(yum?) is sent rolling down the 180 meters long hill and the participants race down to get it. The event was originally held for the people from the local villages of Brockworth, but now people from all over the world take part in it. The rules of the game are : to never stop the roll; to not walk more than 3 steps; to wear mandatory safety equipment and to be as quick as possible.
Bossaball
You’ve heard of baseball, but what about its boss brother? Bossaball is a ball game played between two teams. It was first played in Brazil in the year 2005, and was conceptualized by Belgian Filip Eyckmans. The sport combines volleyball, football and gymnastics with music. It is played on an inflatable court with a trampoline. The winning team is chosen based on the best of three sets. First set gets won when a team scores 21 points with at least a difference of two points from the opposing team. The set continues as long as the minimal difference is maintained. The third set is played till 15 points with the same rules as the previous sets.
Competitive sleeping
We don’t know you, but we know this is the perfect sport for you. And for us. And for everyone stealing those few minutes of sleep before they absolutely have to get up.
The world’s first sleeping competition titled National Siesta Championship was held in Madrid in 2010. The purpose of this competition was to promote and defend naps that are healthy and good for oneself. The judging criteria for the sport is based on sleeping posture, snores and the speed at which the participants fall asleep. The duration for the competition is 20 minutes and the winner gets €1000. Spain conducts the competition every year! The odd element of this competition is that the competitors are supposed to fall asleep after lunch in the middle of a busy shopping mall and their pulse rates are monitored. So hey, Serenity Now!
Extreme Ironing
Extreme ironing is a thrilling and extreme outdoor sport in which the participants take ironing boards to remote locations and iron items of clothing. The Extreme Ironing Bureau describes the game as a dangerous sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt. Participants have performed on mountain sides, in forest, in the middle of snowboarding, underwater and under a frozen lake. The performances can be performed both by groups and as solo.
Giant Pumpkin Kayaking
Giant Pumpkin Regatta, also popularly known as The Windsor Pumpkin Regatta is an annual water race held in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The course of the race is 800 meters and the only means of flotation is through brightly coloured giant pumpkins. The race was founded in 1999 by Danny Dill. There are three different forms of Giant Pumpkin Regatta : motor, experimental and paddling. The paddling class is the most popular form. There are three major rules in this sport. The first rule is that the pumpkins should weigh between 600 to 800 pounds. The second rule is that participants should be certain that the pumpkins they use will float. The last rule is that pushing or shoving other participants is not allowed.
Toe wrestling
Toe wrestling, similar to arm wrestling, is played between two opponents in which they lock toes and attempt to pin each other’s feet down. The game was invented in 1976 by a landlord in Staffordshire; the purpose behind this invention was to make the United Kingdom win a new sport. This sport has been conducted annually since 1994. The World Toe Wrestling Championships are held at the Royal Oak in Wetton. The rules are simple and direct: players must be barefoot and each player’s foot must touch flat on the other person’s foot in at least two out of three rounds. The first round is played with right foot, followed by left and right again if necessary.
Totally bizarre, aren’t they? The weirdest sports of the world left us perplexed, wondering how the mind can invent them. But, we mean, soccer is basically twenty-two men running after a ball and kicking it, so…..
Loved reading about the weirdest sports? Here’s one more you’ll like: Motorcycle chariot racing!
0 Comments