Wales loves sports like rugby, football, and cricket. But there are some lesser-known games gaining popularity worldwide. People even place bets on these sports on international online casinos. If you also want to, you might need to try sportsbooks not on GamStop. Now, let’s discover the top 15 rare and crazy sports from around the world.
Quidditch
Let’s start our list with something kind of absurd: Quidditch. Even though this sport first appeared in the Harry Potter universe, it has escaped the pages and made its way to our muggle fields. While there are no flying broomsticks, the ferocity of the game may surprise you. Quidditch players often compete on hockey fields, running around with brooms between their legs. They attempt to catch the Quaffle, evade the Bludgers, and get the elusive Golden Snitch.
Sepak Takraw
Sepak Takraw, also known as kick volleyball, comes from Southeast Asia. In this sport, players can only use their feet, knees, shoulders, and head to push a rattan ball over the net. The game demands exceptional athleticism, as players often jump high to score points. It’s not a common playground game, but undoubtedly an exciting and physically demanding sport.
Tuna Tossing
Tuna Tossing was created in Port Lincoln, South Australia, by local fishermen who tossed their catch onto trucks with force. In this sport, participants aim to throw a 20-pound tuna as far as possible. This unique sport draws large crowds at local festivals. The most effective competitors use a hammer-throwing method, that is spinning many times before unleashing the tuna.
Toe Wrestling
Toe Wrestling is a bizarre sport where participants lock their toes and attempt to pin each other’s feet down. It is similar to arm wrestling but in this case, you use your feet. It’s a weird tournament that requires clean, well-trimmed toenails.
Hot Dog Eating Contest
The Hot Dog Eating Contest is a popular event in many countries, especially the US. Contestants try to eat as many hot dogs as they can in ten minutes. Legendary eater Joey Chestnut and Kobayashi have consumed a record-breaking 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
Man vs. Horse Marathons
In Wales, competitors face off in Man vs. Horse Marathons, where runners try to outrun riders on horseback in a 22-mile race. This unique event began as a pub argument and has since become an annual tradition. By the way, humans sometimes triumph over their horse counterparts.
Wife Carrying
Wife Carrying has its roots in Finland and involves male competitors carrying their female partners through an obstacle course. It’s all about speed and agility while navigating hurdles and various terrains. Winners sometimes earn awards that include the wife’s weight in beer.
If you think that’s an easy and funny competition, you are wrong. Wife carrying may result in injuries such as slipped discs, fractured limbs, dislocations, neck or spinal injury, face injuries, skull fractures, hernias, and even potentially deadly accidents.
Bog Snorkeling
If you’re seeking a one-of-a-kind challenge that demands skill and stamina, the ultimate destination is a muddy peat bog near Llanwrtyd Wells in Mid Wales. Participants don snorkeling gear and flippers to swim through a 60-yard trench filled with bog water. The goal is to complete two lengths of the trench as quickly as possible.
Just like many brilliant ideas in history, the World Bog snorkelling Championship had its beginnings in a pub in Llanwrtyd Wells. And now Lonely Planet has hailed it as one of the world’s top 50 ‘must-do’ experiences.
Extreme Ironing
Extreme Ironing is an amazing idea that turns routine tasks into exciting sports. It combines the mundane task of ironing with extreme outdoor activities. Participants iron their clothes in adventurous locations, such as mountains, forests, in a canoe even underwater. The extreme ironing has been done individually and in groups.
Pumpkin Chunkin’
Pumpkin Chunkin’ is the sport of hurling a pumpkin solely by mechanical means for distance. Participants launch pumpkins into the air using handmade devices such as slingshots, catapults, or cannons. Pumpkins must weigh 8 – 10 pounds and no explosives are allowed, This sport celebrates the fall season and demonstrates the creativity of pumpkin-chucking enthusiasts.
Caber Tossing
Caber Tossing is a traditional Scottish athletic event in which competitors toss a large tapered pole called a caber. The goal is to flip the caber so that it lands in a straight line from the thrower. Although the sport is primarily associated with Scotland, a similar entertainment
exist around the world, for example, in Sweden.
Competitive Worm Charming
Competitive Worm Charming involves luring as many earthworms as possible out of the ground within a specific time limit. This quirky sport combines strategy and skill to see who can charm the most worms. Participants vibrate the soil to coax the worms to the surface.
Cheese Rolling
Cheese Rolling is an adrenaline-packed event held in Gloucester, England. Participants chase a nine-pound cheese wheel down a steep hill, racing to catch it before it reaches the bottom. The first one to cross the finish line wins the cheese wheel and bragging rights.
Unicycle Hockey
Unicycle Hockey combines the challenges of unicycling with the rules of hockey. Teams of five players per side navigate the rink on unicycles, trying to score goals. It’s a sport that demands balance, coordination, and teamwork.
Gurning Contests
Gurning Contests are all about making the most bizarre and exaggerated facial expressions. Participants often stick their heads through a horse collar while contorting their faces. These quirky competitions have been entertaining audiences in the UK for generations.
As you can see, from Quidditch to Gurning Contests, the world is full of unique and unusual sports that showcase human creativity and athleticism. While these sports may not have the widespread recognition of mainstream games meanwhile, they offer a refreshing and entertaining alternative for those seeking something out of the ordinary. Whether it’s tossing pumpkins or charming worms, these sports remind us that the world of athleticism is as diverse as it is unexpected. So, the next time you’re looking for a new sport to try or simply want to appreciate the quirky side of competition, consider exploring one of these unique sports from around the world.
