Canoe Jousting

Canoe jousting is not a very well-known sport, but it is a fun thing to do. In this game, there is a race between two canoes until a marked point. Jousting begins after both the canoes reach the designated point. The motto of jousting is to submerge the opponent’s canoe by any means possible. But one is not allowed to use any tool to submerge the opponent’s canoe. Initially, poles were used in this sport but it proved to be very dangerous, especially for use in a friendly sporting event. Now, the use of poles is completely banned.

 

A judge sits at one end of the river to keep track of the events. The judge ultimately decides which canoe has been submerged first. Though it is not compulsory to have a judge for this event, at times, the judge’s decision is very important in case of close calls. No formal tournament has been held so far for this event but it is slowly becoming popular.

 

This game is a test of stamina and will power because the player has to stay afloat in the canoe in spite of being hurled and jostled by his opponent. The players use all means — be it fair or unfair — to submerge the opponent’s canoe. The attire worn for this sport is cumbersome and designed to keep the player afloat after the canoe subsides. The costume is designed for the player’s safety. This sport is very popular in the South-Western part of France. The event is held during the summer and the weather is very soothing during this period. Apart from the sport, people engage themselves in drinking and merrymaking.

Curling

Curling is a sport which has a striking similarity to bowls and shuffle board. The playing surface is a sheet of ice. The number of players competing on each side is four and the game is played between two teams. The game is played by hitting a target with granite stones rolled towards it. There are two players called sweepers who use brooms to guide the rock towards its target. The game has a certain degree of complexity and is, therefore, referred to as chess on ice.

 

Curling has its origin in Scotland and was first played there during the medieval period. The first recorded game was played in February 1541. The playing surface is made of a thick ice sheet with the ice being artificially frozen with the help of cooling plants. The length of the playing surface is 146 feet and the width of the surface is 14.2 feet. The temperature of the surface is maintained at -5 Celsius. The name curling has been derived from the fact that the stones roll over in a manner resembling a curl.

 

The players on each team have independent positions assigned to each of them. The player in the lead position throws the stones for the team. He is followed by the second-positioned player. His job is to throw the team’s third and fourth stones. The player in the third position throws the fifth and sixth stones for the team.

 

The captain of the team is called the skip. He is responsible for creating the game strategy. The position of the broom held by the skip will tell the player at which point he has to aim. The skip does not sweep but is the main strategy maker of the team.

 

In spite of the game’s apparent simplicity, the equipment used to play curling is quite specialised. The shoes are specially designed to enable the players to slide on the ice surface. The broom, especially shaped to resemble the letter, ‘T’, is designed to guide the ball to the target whilst competitive curling rocks are made of granite.

Bog Snorkelling.

Bog snorkelling is a sport in which the competitor completes two consecutive sets of a 55m water trench dug through a bog. The competitor to complete the run through the trench in the shortest time is the winner of the event. The rules, however, are strict although the game sounds pretty clumsy. The competitors are not allowed to swim through the trench and must complete the run jogging through the trench. Competitors can wear waterproof clothing but that is not a necessity. Some competitors prefer not to wear extra clothing since it adds more weight.

 

The origin of the game is recent and the first World Bog Snorkelling event took place in 1985. Now, it is held every year at Llanwrtyd Wells, which is located in Mid Wales. At present, the world record holder of this event is Joanne Pitchforth. She is the current world champion in bog snorkelling. The current men’s world champion is Rob Liscoe. This sport is very popular in Wales and many events associated with bog snorkelling are held every year. The fan following for this event is huge and it draws a lot of sponsors.

 

Along with bog snorkelling, there are a lot of other events that are also held every year in Wales. One of them is the World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling Championship which is very popular among the residents of Wales. This event was first held in 2000. The bikes used in this event are specially designed with tires that are filled with water. The frame of the bike is made from lead. The event was held on the 10th of July and the main sponsor for this event came from Young’s Bitter. The event has both individual and team challenges. The bikers have to ride their bikes through water-filled trenches. The mud and water makes the terrain difficult for the bikers and it is a real challenge to win such a race.

Dwarf Tossing

Dwarf tossing is a controversial activity usually exercised in pubs and bars for the entertainment of the customers and members. It is considered harmful to the dignity of little people. However, the money earned remains an attraction for many.

 

In this entertaining sport, the dwarves are covered with a special padded costume and a helmet and then thrown on mattresses or against a wall coated with Velcro. The competition is won by the participant who throws the dwarf the farthest distance.

 

Little people, as a whole, have never welcomed this sport and many lawsuits have been filed in the court of law against dwarf tossing. It was primarily popular in the US, France, and Canada. In Canada, The Dwarf Tossing Ban Act was passed in 2003. Even the UN high commissioner gave a statement, commenting that dwarf tossing is not only harmful to the dignity of dwarves, but it is also against keeping the social order and maintaining human dignity.

 

Generally, dwarf tossing had its peak during the 1970s until the late 1980s when there was no such ban published against dwarf tossing and it became one of the most popular activities for any bars or pubs in town.

 

As the little people were well-paid for participating in the sport and as the sport popularity spread amongst different cities and nations, it slowly became the source of income for many dwarves. This was the reason many dwarves were economically dependent on the sport in spite of hating it.

 

In the US, it gained fame in Florida along with other major cities, but the law enforcement agencies and human rights commission did not take long to suppress the activity and, today, it is officially banned across the US.

Underwater Rugby

There are different stories regarding the origin of underwater rugby, but the original concept was born in Germany. Ludwig von Bersuda is arguably the founder of this game. He had the idea of playing a ball game underwater and, after much research and modification, came up with the primary form of underwater rugby.

 

The sport has very little, or no, similarities to normal rugby. It is played in a swimming pool with a depth of 3.5 to 5 metres with the goal posts located at opposite ends. The sport needs loads of strength and stamina. As a result, each team of six players has four extra substitutes standing by for replacement during the course of play. The amount of sheer physical strength required, however, has not deterred plenty of women from taking up the sport. The ball used in the sport is slightly buoyant and must not leave the pool during play. Due to water resistance, it can shoot up to a maximum height of 2m to 3m in the air; thus, intelligent positioning is a vital element of play.

 

Currently, underwater rugby has its biggest following in Germany. The first German championship took place in 1971. However, this championship was unofficial. The sport was recognised as an official sport in 1972 and, from then on, the German championship takes place every year at a venue in Muellheim.

 

European championship started in 1978 and the venue was Malmo in Sweden whilst the first world championship took place in Muellhein in 1980. The sport of underwater rugby is, however, catching up quickly with the rest of the world, especially in the Scandinavian countries.

Wife Carrying

Now this is what we call masculine superiority! Wife carrying is a very unusual competition originally introduced at Sonkajarvi in Finland. This game has been attracting interest from around the globe and, especially, the American nationals.

 

The sport of wife carrying has its roots in the local history of the town called Sonkajarvi in Finland. It is said that, in the late 1800s, there was a mischievous general called Rosvo-Ronkainen who asked his men to prove their worth by carrying heavy sacks on their back and competing through difficult tracks.

 

The wife carrying competition has become popular with time across many countries and the competition is locally held at many locations. However, the major venues for wife carrying competition are Sonkajarvi, Wisconsin, Marquette, and Michigan.

 

One of the most famous championships is the North American Wife Carrying Championship, which is held every year in October on Columbus Day weekend. The venue chosen for this championship is the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.

The last championship that took place in October 2007 saw 40 couples participating, which counts for the highest number of participants. This year, it is expected to break last year’s record.

 

The rules for the games are not very difficult to understand though the whole concept is a tough physical challenge. The track for this competition is around 253.5 meters and the surface consists of a combination of grass, sand, and gravel. It is not necessary that the partner has to be your wife, but its necessary that she should be above 49 kg and, if not, a rucksack is provided. The couple that completes the track first wins the competition.

 

Participants should take necessary precautions for safety and it is necessary that the wife or partner wears a helmet whilst the male partner wears a belt. Participants are encouraged to invent their own styles though most famous styles exercised generally are Estonian, piggyback, and fire back’s carry-to-carry female partner.

 

The main prize awarded is beer amounting to the wife’s weight. Participants with different approaches, styles, and costumes receive special prizes. Wife carrying is a very interesting and unusual sport with more enthusiasts joining the sport every year.

Cheese Rolling

There are different kinds of games and sports activities practiced in various parts of the world, not only which are already internationally famous, but there are also the ones that have their roots in a particular region and culture. Cheese rolling is one of those sports. It is held in Copper’s Hill, which is close to Cheltenham, as well as in Gloucester in the Cotswold region of England.

 

Cheese rolling is originally a local event where the natives and participants from the nearby region used to participate. However, with time, publicity, and even the adventurous and lethal nature of the event, it has attracted many participants from all over England as well as from different countries. The game of cheese rolling is now held even in different parts of the globe but the sport’s home is still Cooper’s Hill.

 

The event of cheese rolling has three men’s race and one race is for women. In cheese rolling, participants need to roll from the top of the hill and race after the tumbling cheese. Originally, the concept was that the winner is the one who catches the cheese at the earliest stage, but, because of the heavy duty risk involved due to the steepness of the hill, it ended up with the rule that the one who reaches the bottom of the hill first wins the race.

 

In viewing the event of the cheese rolling, it looks as though the participants are flying due to the force of gravity exerted on them. Cheese tumbles actually at the speed of 70 mph down a slope of around 70 degrees. This calls for safety measures, which are taken in terms of the availability of paramedics and ambulances during the course of the event so that they are ready to act on any emergency.

 

Cheese rolling has been gaining popularity due to its unconventional nature as a sport and due to the spirit that the participant carries. It has become a very interesting and eventful sport to watch. The spectators are not spared from the danger of the event. A few times, even members of the audiences have been hurt by the cheese or the fast-rolling participants.

CHESS BOXING

Chess boxing is a unique combination of intellect and strength presented together as an entertainment package. From the time it was introduced in 1992 by Enki Bilal, a cartoonist by profession, chess boxing has been growing every year in terms of popularity and the professional rivalries.

 

The game of chess boxing is gaining fame across the globe and is in practice already in the US and Europe. However, even though the roots of chess boxing remain the same in all the countries where it is practiced, the nature of the game is not the same. In the US, the game of chess boxing is used to generalise and practically imbibe the spirit and usefulness of intellect, strategy, and non-violence.

 

In Europe, the game of chess boxing has different stories to narrate. For instance, the game of chess boxing has taken a forceful and bloodier shape. There is even an organisation called the World Chess Boxing Organization and it does not end here as it has centres in Berlin, London, and Sofia in Bulgaria.

 

The rules of chess boxing are simple though people listening to this new concept of two different set of games coming together in one arena might find it difficult to digest. The game has three minutes of boxing and four minutes of chess with an interval of one minute for changing into their respective gear. The game can be won by checkmate, knock out, or by a decision made by the referee.

 

Chess boxing does not only require muscle power, but it also needs a sharp brain to match up to it. It is a game that is going be one of the most popular sports in the near future as speculated by the sports analysts. It is catching the attention of millions of fans where it is being played presently and the urge to experience the same is being developed by millions of others across the globe.

Gaelic Football

Gaelic football is a very popular sport in Ireland that started in the 16^th century. There are two teams that play against each other. Each team involved in the game has fifteen players. The pitch is rectangular in shape with an H-shaped goal at either end of the pitch. This is placed on the two ends of the field. Here, the players have to kick the ball to the goal. Alternatively, they can also use their hands to score a goal. The team that scores the maximum points is the winner. Gaelic football is very similar to regular football or soccer as some people refer to it. However, the hand touch is not allowed in football or soccer. In Gaelic football, the players have to pass the ball from one player to the other to ultimately score a goal.

 

A game of Gaelic football is generally played for sixty minutes. If there is a draw — that is, if both the teams score equal points — then an additional twenty minutes is given to play, providing an opportunity for one of the teams to score an additional goal. There is a break after every ten minutes. The team’s members are given numbers and the numbers are printed on their T-shirts. The goal keeper does have a different outfit with a different colour. There is also a referee for the game as well as four umpires and two linesmen who also to help in the proceedings of the game. The players are normally skilled. It is not very easy to play the game though it might look as if it is. Professionals practice a lot in order to perfect the game.

 

There are lots of competitions that are held for Gaelic football. It is played in stadiums and there are a lot of spectators that like to view the game. It is fun to watch the game in the stadium because the atmosphere can be electrifying. There is a lot of noise and cheering as each side roots for their favourite team. People come in different attires and wave various banners to support their team. Playing and viewing this game is spectacular. The competitions that are held are for different categories. There is the senior level, junior level, minor level, under age level, intermediate level, and so on.

 

The players who participate in the game should be able to tackle the game efficiently. That includes passing the ball, scoring a goal, and moving the ball, which should be done comfortably by the players. The legs should be strong enough to move the ball around. The players from the opposite side will try their best to move the ball towards their direction. This means that the players should know how to pass the ball even if the opponent is close by. For all this responsibility, there is a lot of practice and fitness that is required.

 

The players should also be able to avoid any kind of fouls in the game. Tripping, pushing a player from the other team, blocking, wrestling, and sliding should be avoided. The referee may also ask any player to leave if the player is at fault. This kind of a situation should be avoided by the players. Other than that, Gaelic football is a thrilling game that attracts a whole lot of spectators to the stadium.