Human beings have been taking part in sports for centuries. Whereas many sports attract a following because of the competition, the excitation and the thrill they have, there are a number that draw crowds because of their eccentric or out of the ordinary nature. Sometimes, such sports being odd is not deliberate but consequential because of the differences between cultures. In other words, a certain sport may appear to one person but is completely normal in the culture where it originates from.
The following is a list of 10 of the funniest sports in the world.
1) The Annual Man versus Horse Marathon
This is a race where a man competes against a horse. The sport was started in 1980 by following an argument between two men on whether or not a man can run faster than a horse if both were compete in a cross country race. The race is usually held in Llanwrtyd town in Wales.
2) Wife carrying
Wife carrying races were first introduced in Finland but have now become common in other parts of the world such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Morono and Sonkajarui. In this event, the male competitors run through an obstacle track while they carry their wives or girlfriends. If you are going to win this race, you need technique. Most couples will go for the classic piggyback as well as the fire man's lift where the wife interlocks her legs over her husband's shoulders while she is trapped in an upside down position. The reward for winning the race varies but the most amusing is the Sonkajarui race where the winner walks away with beer that weighs the same as his wife.
3) Toe wrestling
This sport was started in the year 1976 at Derbyshire pub in the UK. Similar to arm wrestling, for you to win you must find a way of forcing your opponent's foot to the ground while your toes are locked together.
4) Bog snorkelling
A trench filled with water is cut through a peat bog. The competitors must swim in the trench wearing snorkels and flippers. The competitors only use their flippers to swim and compete against each other. You are not allowed to use any other traditional swimming techniques.
5) Chess Boxing
This sport is aimed at testing the competitor's intelligence and strength. There are eleven rounds that alternate between boxing and chess competitions. The first round is chess, which is played for four minutes, followed by a two minute boxing round. This sport has an umbrella body known as the world chess boxing organization which manages international tournaments.
6) Cheese rolling
Amusing to watch, this is a fairly straightforward competition where competitors race after a round piece of cheese that is roled from the top of a hill. The goal is to catch the rolling cheese. Of course this never happens given that the cheese gets a head start and that it hits speeds of up to 112Km / h.
7) The world beard and moustache competition
This is a biennial competition that brings together thousands of men who show off their unique moustaches and bears. For the competitors, the most coveted prize is the title 'most inventive and perfectly shaped facial hair'. The competition has different beard categories such as the Dali moustache, the full beard free style and the goatee.
8) The world gurning championships
The winner of this old English fun competition is the one that can contour their face and come up with the funniest or weirdest expression. Competitors must wear a horse collar before they start to twist their faces.
9) Pea shooting competition
Competitors must shoot their peas ('missiles') into a soft target. The sport has so advanced that nowdays, the use of laser guided shooters and homemade machine guns is not unusual.
10) The octopush or under water hockey
Finalizing this list of funny sports is under water hockey. It is ordinary hockey with the only difference being the environment – under water. The sport has grown in popularity in the Southern Hemisphere and is held in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Even if you do not intend to participate in such an event, the mirth derived from watching these funny sports will give your stomach sufficient exercise – you can be sure your ribs will be coming from hearty laughter by the end of the competition irrespective of who wins .