From naked sledding to cheese rolling: These are Europe’s most unusual sporting events
Recently, thousands of fearless participants gathered to take part in the annual Royal Shrovetide Football Game.
If you’ve never heard of this violent and downright insane medieval sport, imagine this: two teams, each consisting of around 1,000 people, gather in a small town in England to play a game of football. But here’s the kicker: there are no rules, no set field, the goals are five kilometers apart and the game lasts two days.
It’s like a mix between football and pub crawl, with a dash of Hunger Games thrown in for good measure.
In honor of this brutal event, we thought we’d take a look at some of the other unusual games and traditional sporting events across Europe.
From nude sledding to cheese rolling, these sports are sure to mystify and amuse you.
Cheese rolls (England)
The name says it all – in this game, a giant wheel of cheese rolls down a steep hill while the participants run after it. Similar to the golden snitch in Harry Potter, the competitors aim to catch the cheese and whoever crosses the finish line first with the cheese wins.
Played annually in the picturesque English town of Brockworth, Gloucestershire, the game is definitely not for the faint of heart!
Some say it’s a celebration of the human spirit, others say it’s just a bunch of weirdos chasing dairy down a hill. Whatever the case, one thing is for sure: the event is definitely not for the faint of heart!
World Carrying Championships (Finland)
The World Women’s Carrying Championships in Finland is no ordinary sporting event.
The event, known in Finland as Eukonkanto, features male competitors carrying their partners on their backs through a challenging obstacle course. The woman must weigh at least 49 kilograms, and if she falls, the team will be penalized.
The competition is believed to have come from a Finnish legend in which a man had to carry his wife through a forest while being pursued by bandits.
The competition is not only a test of physical strength and endurance, but also of the confidence, communication and teamwork of the couples involved.
Instead of medals or a cash prize, the winning couple receive the woman’s weight in beer. Bottom up!
Naked Sled (Germany)
Germany is known for many things – delicious beer, stunning architecture and a rich cultural history. But did you know that they also have a tradition of naked sledding?
That’s right, in the snowy spa town of Braunlage, people gather every year to race down a snowy hill in just their birthday suits!
Both men and women from around the world take part in the event, which takes place in mid-February and attracts around 25,000 people. Competitors drove out to win a €1,000 prize.
And while the idea of hurtling down a hill naked may seem a little daunting, the organizers take safety very seriously. Helmets are compulsory and participants may only toboggan on specially designated routes.
Bog Snorkeling (Wales)
If you’ve always wanted to swim through a peat bog with just a snorkel and fins, then the World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales might just be for you!
What exactly is bog snorkeling, you might ask?
Well it is exactly what it sounds like. Participants don their best snorkel gear and dive into a muddy bog, where they swim as fast as possible through a set course. It may sound simple, but navigating the murky waters of a peat bog is no easy task.
Participants come from all over the world to attend this event and they take it very seriously. They spend months training and preparing for the big day, honing their snorkeling technique and studying the ins and outs of peat bogs.
But the best thing about the World Moor Snorkeling Championships? The costumes of course! Contestants often come in wacky outfits, from superhero costumes to inflatable animal suits. And while they may not help with the actual swimming, they certainly add to the entertainment value.
Extreme channel jumping (Netherlands)
In a spectacular sport called Fierljeppen (literally meaning “jumping the furthest”), brave participants try to jump as far as possible over a body of water with the help of a special jumping stick.
The sport originated in the Netherlands, where canals are as common as tulips and windmills. Legend has it that it began in the 17th century to allow farmers to cross canals and ditches, but it has since evolved into a competitive sport with championships held across the country.
One of the biggest and most competitive competitions is the Red Bull Fierste Ljepperwho returned last year in Haarlem, The Netherlands.
Calcio Storico (Italy)
Imagine a dusty, sand-filled field in the heart of Florence, Italy. The sun is beating down on a crowd of rowdy, passionate spectators anxiously awaiting the start of the game. And then the players emerge, dressed in nothing but traditional 16th-century robes and looking as if they’ve stepped straight out of a Renaissance painting.
But don’t let the disguise fool you – this is no ordinary game. In fact, calcio storico, also known as ‘historic football’, is a brutal, uncompromising battle between two teams of 27 players each, all vying for the honor of victory.
The rules of Calcio Storico are simple: get the ball into the opposing team’s goal by any means necessary. And when we say anything necessary, we mean it. Players are allowed to punch, kick, and elbow their opponents, and even smack them to the ground with headbutts and body kicks.
But why, you might ask, would anyone expose themselves to such a brutal game? Well, for the players, it’s about the honor and pride of their team and their city. Calcio Storico has a long and colorful history, dating back to the 16th century, and is considered a way to honor Florence’s traditions and culture.
And for viewers of the annual event, it’s a chance to relax and cheer on their favorite team while enjoying some cold beers and traditional Tuscan food.