Sports have been an intrinsic part of human cultures for ages. It is entertaining and it is great for your mental and physical health. In fact, these days, we are not playing enough, preferring to stay put at home with our gadgets and shunning the games that keep us fit and entertained. A quick game of football or basketball out in the sun can do a world of good to our health.
But did you know there are more sports out in the world than meets the ear? Yes, they all come across as weird, interesting, and intriguing yet they help you stay invested in the game and teach you all about sportsmanship. So, if you are traveling around the world then here are a few of the sports you can very well try!
Wife-Running in Finland
Now that is as unique as it gets, carrying your wife while you race towards the finish line can be a pain in the back, but also a lot of fun. The Finnish people agree though and they take carrying their wives on their backs pretty seriously. The most famous competition is held at Sonkjärvi, Finland, the place where this sport were invented. So, how do you carry your wife? Well, you can try different carrying techniques such as piggy-backing, Estonian-style, fireman’s carry, and more. The sport is finding favor in other parts of the world including the US and Australia. Sounds like a great sport! What do you think?
Sepak Takraw in Malayasia
This sport finds favor among the sports aficionados in Malaysia and Thailand. It was a sport that was first played around the 15th century and is still popular in the two countries, and they have been labeled as the sport pursued by the monarchies. The sport literally means kickball sport and is similar to volleyball. So, there are two teams each comprising of three players. They square off on the opposite ends of the net while trying to keep the ball aloft at the same time. But there is a catch: rather than seeking the easier way out and using your hands, you have to use anything other than your hands, that is your feet, chin, or knees.
Bossaball
Bossaball finds its root in Spain by a man named Belgian Filip Eyckmans. It incorporates the basics of several sports such as volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, and Brazilian capoeira. The rules include two trampolines on either side of a net and are surrounded by an inflatable surface. One of each team member occupies a place on the trampoline on each side of the net. One of these players is an attacker and they go about serving the ball. The opposing team then tries to send the ball back over the net and is allowed just 5 contacts. This is a super fun sport as competitors bouncing around the sports performing aerial acrobatics.
Ferret-legging in England
This strange-sounding sport hails from Yorkshire in England and apparently, coal-miners started playing it. The sport is all about an endurance test where competitors place ferrets in their trousers and trap them there as they shut down their ankle holes. So, who wins? Someone who can keep the ferrets down their pants for the longest time! The sports became popular in the 1970s and was revived between 2003 and 2009. Definitely, a strange sort of game come to think of it and will find its way in weirdest sports ever! Would you believe the longest record of holding the ferrets in their pants is around five and a half hours?
Yukigassen in Japan
So, this is the most fun one you could hear about in this list and it’s kid-friendly too since it involves a big snowball fight. That is the literal meaning of yukigassen or a snowball. It is played between two teams each comprising of seven players. So, here’s the thing you have to duck the snowballs. You have to abide by the safety protocol though, thus the helmets and face shields. Apparently, as many as ninety snowballs are created before the match. As the players hit the court the fun bonanza starts. Also, if you are hit by a snowball you are out! No wonder it is being played in different countries, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Alaska, and Russia, today there is even a World Championship in Sobetsu, Hokkaido, every year.
So, have you heard about any other weird yet fun sports that caught your attention recently! If yes, let us know in the comments section below.