We all have some favorite sports that we are extremely passionate about. Be it football, tennis, basketball or any other known sport, there are hundreds of thousands of lovers of such games all around the world. We all know someone who is a die-hard fan of some NBA franchise or loves that particular football club in Europe. Some, including yours truly, often live and breathe the games of their favourite teams. When our teams win we celebrate wildly, while a defeat often means a whole weekend of mild depression. In essence, we live and breathe the successes and failures of our beloved sports teams.
But there are some sports played in different parts of the world that are quite unusual and probably even weird. These sports are not exactly well-known and popular around the world. But the countries or regions where these games originate from have a lot of attachment to them. Some of these games are quite unusual, unique, and even weird. Take a look. We are sure that you will be left bewildered by a few of them.
⦁ Hurling
This is a team game (15 players on each side) played outdoors on a field similar to the one used for playing football. It has its origins in Ireland and is extremely popular there, with local championship matches garnering regular attendance in the hundreds of thousands. People in Ireland have been playing this game, which has prehistoric origins in ancient Gaelic and Irish traditions, for about 3000 years.
The objective of the game is to score goals and earn points by using a wooden stick called hurley to hit a small ball called sliotar into the opposition’s goal guarded by a goalkeeper. Hitting the ball under the crossbar earns 3 points for a team whereas hitting it over the crossbar earns 1 point.
⦁ Wife Carrying
No, we are not kidding. This is an actual sport native to Finland. Participants (all male) have to race through a series of obstacles with their wives on their backs. The winner gets the traditional prize of his wife’s weight in beer and five times her weight in cash.
⦁ Ostrich Racing
Having its origins in Egypt and other parts of Africa, ostrich racing is still quite popular in that region. It is even advertised as a tourist attraction in many countries.
⦁ Chess Boxing
As is evident from the name, this is a combination of chess and boxing. It involves 11 alternating rounds of both games where a competitor can win either by a checkmate, a knockout, or a judges’ decision.
⦁ Sepak Takraw
Also known as kick volleyball, this sport is native to South-East Asia. The rules are somewhat similar to volleyball with one major difference. Players are not allowed to use their hands. Instead, they must control the ball using their feet, head, chest, and knees. The ball used in this game is called rattan ball which is a sort of synthetic balloon.
⦁ Buzkashi
Buzkashi is played in different parts of South and Central Asia and is the national sport of Afghanistan. The main objective of the game is to seize the carcass of a headless goat while galloping at full pace on a horse, get it clear of the other players, and launch it across the goal-line to score.
⦁ Cheese Rolling
This British sport is a pretty regular fixture. The annual competition takes place at Cooper’s Hill near Gloucester, England where a round of Double Gloucester Cheese is rolled down from the top of the hill. Competitors go racing downhill after the rolling cheese. Technically the racers are supposed to catch the cheese; however, that piece of cheese can attain a speed of up to 70 kilometres per hour while rolling downhill. Therefore, whoever crosses the finish line first wins the race and gets the cheese as a prize.
⦁ Cock Fighting
This blood sport is quite common in many parts of India and Pakistan as well as in Brazil and other parts of Latin America. The practice of raising cocks/roosters for fighting dates back to more than 6000 years ago, especially in the Indian subcontinent. The cocks are pitted to fight against one another in a ring called a cockpit while owners bet their money and other possessions on their respective roosters to win the fight.
⦁ Bull Fighting
Though this sport is quite well-known in different parts of the world as compared to some other games on this list, Spain remains its original and spiritual home. It is also by far the most dangerous sport on this list. The player or matador attempts to control, overpower, and execute a raging bull according to certain rules and guidelines.
⦁ Underwater Hockey
As the name suggests, this is hockey played underwater at the bottom of a pool. Instead of using a hockey stick to move the puck around, players use a pusher which looks like a small blade.
So, there you have it, some highly unusual and weird sports in different parts of the world. Which ones really stood out for you and which ones did you already know about? Got any other such games to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below. Cheers.