The usual sports are familiar – and a bit tired. Basketball or football fans will be quick to object, but wife-carrying or toe wrestling sound exotic and really pique our interest. Okay, they will probably never surpass traditional sports in popularity, but they are sure to bring a smile and interest to sports fans. Here’s a list of top 8 weirdest and most unusual sports.
Extreme ironing
Extreme sport or art form? Probably both. Participants, who call themselves ironers, travel to a remote area and iron their clothes. The ironing is done underwater, while hanging on dangerous rocks, skiing or climbing on vehicles. Quite a few participants take a caffeine supplement before this intense activity, to have the energy to pull it off.
Wife carrying
Some men complain about their wives always being on their back. But not in this sport. In Sonkajärvi, Finland, the sport of wife-carrying is quite simple – men compete by carrying their wives through an obstacle course. And at the annual North American Wife Carrying Championships, the winners receive the now traditional prize of as much beer as the winner’s wife weighs, a sum of money equal to five times the wife’s weight, and the chance to compete in the World Championships in Finland.
Chess boxing
Chess boxing is, as its name suggests, a hybrid of boxing and chess. In an 11-round fight, participants box one round and play chess in the other.
Cheese rolling
Participants compete in the annual cheese-rolling competition on Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire, UK. The rules are simple: a large round cheese wheel is launched down a steep hill and the participants chase it. The first participant to reach the bottom of the hill wins the cheese. The sport does not seem dangerous, but the steepness of the hill has caused injuries to several participants.
Egg throwing
According to the World Egg Throwing Federation, the sport of egg throwing has been enjoyed by millions of people since ancient times, when people began to enjoy the spectacle of another person failing to catch an egg thrown at them. Egg throwers can take part in the annual World Egg Throwing Championships, which consist of various events and take place in Swindon (England).
Toe wrestling
The name says it all – opponents wrestle with their toes. The unusual sport originated in 1976, when the British were trying to become world leaders in the sport. The rules are simple – after removing their shoes and socks, the competitors try to wrestle using their feet.
Sepak Takraw
Originating in Southeast Asia, sepak takraw resembles volleyball. The essence of the game is that players must hit the ball with anything other than their hands. The game is played with a ball made of dried palm leaves.
Shin kicking
Shin kicking takes masculinity to a whole new level. The sport originated in England in the early 17th century. The contestants try to kick their opponent’s shins as many times and as hard as they can until he or she finally stumbles. The championship of this sport is held in England.
