3 strange sporting events that you haven’t heard of
You don’t need to be a sports buff to know about great sporting events like world cups and Olympics. But you'd be surprised to know that some truly strange sporting events are organised annually in different parts of the world. Take the bull race in Spain, or the Mud Olympics in Germany as examples. Yes, you read that right! Let's learn more about three strange sporting events!
Mud Olympics, Germany
The Mud Olympics, or what people call the Wattolympiade, is a sporting event annually held in the mud flats near Hamburg, Germany. The event involves participants enjoying muddy versions of football and handball. In addition, some special events like long-distance rubber boot toss and mud eel race are also held. The Mud Olympics were inaugurated in 2004, and invite hundreds of competitors from Germany and neighbouring countries. The event is held during the weekend, around the middle of August, where the players get caked in mud from head to toe as they play.
The athletes who compete in the Mud Olympics are called 'Wattlets' and the people who organise the event are called 'Wattikanos'. However, the game itself is not only about the fun. The event also aims to raise money for Germany's Schleswig-Holstein state (an area in the west coast) cancer patients. Since the inauguration of the Mud Olympics, the event has raised more than 3,30,000 Euros!
Medoc Castle Marathon, France
The Medoc Castle Marathon in France is unlike any other marathon you may have come across! Initiated in 1985 by a group of friends, the Medoc Castle Marathon is a 42 km race organised every year in September. The event is held at Pauillac, in Saint-Julien village, France. Around 8,000 participants come and enjoy the sports and other regional specialties. The marathon is more like a joke and people do almost everything that is not recommended typically before or during a marathon. The participants are expected to compulsorily be dressed in fancy costumes, indulge in 23 glasses of vintage local wines (that’s 1.2 litres of wine) and explore the vineyards of France! Imagine all of this while running a 42 kms marathon! Every year, the event welcomes a new theme and the participants are required to dress according to the theme. Even the path to the marathon is lined up with orchestra and other means of entertainment by the locals. So, you can participate in the marathon and enjoy live music as you run! When the participants are tired of running, there is plenty of wine and cheese to replenish the strength! People call it the slowest marathon in the world and one can only blame the wine! This is not all, people who manage to reach the finishing line are awarded with a medal, a goody bag with a bottle of wine and two red wine glasses.
Calcio Storico Fiorentino, Italy
Calcio Storico Fiorentino is a sports event with great historical significance. It is also one of the craziest events in Italy! Well, Calcio Storico Fiorentino is a combination of football, rugby and wrestling, played wearing historical costumes! Yeah!
The game originated during the 16th century Italy, Florence to be specific. Initially, the game was played by people of the higher social classes. The event itself was invented by the wealthy aristocrats of Florence. Now it is played amongst four teams. These are historical neighbours of the city, Azzurri or Blues (Santa Croce), Bianchi or Whites (Santo Spirito), Rossi or Reds (Santa Maria Novella) and Verdi or Greens (San Giovanni). Given the game's uniqueness, the participants are allowed to use both the hands and feet, contributing to the unique experience of Calcio Storico. The fancy and historical costumes add to the hilarity of this otherwise rugged sporting event!