Weird World Sports You Gotta See in Person

Image: PHOTO: Bog snorkeling is a big hit in the British Isles. (photo via Wikimedia Commons/Rud-gr)
Image: PHOTO: Bog snorkeling is a big hit in the British Isles. (photo via Wikimedia Commons/Rud-gr)
Scott Hartbeck
by Scott Hartbeck
Last updated: 5:19 PM ET, Thu January 11, 2018

Since European soccer has well-and-truly caught on in North America, now is the perfect time to start looking for other sports to import to our shores.

While the obvious-and most-popular-contenders are rugby and cricket, perhaps we should think a little more outside the box and make a niche sport the next one to blow-up.

And if this amusing infographic about the Great British Olympics created by Holidaycottages.co.uk is anything to go on, Britain will be a source of many of the strangest, um, strongest candidates.

Using some of their suggestions and a few of our own, here are a handful of the world's weirdest and most unique sports that might just be coming to a field or flatscreen TV near you.

Black Pudding Throwing

To say that black pudding is an acquired taste would be an understatement as this delicacy is a combination of pig's blood, onion and oats all rolled up into one.

Black pudding is beloved in Northern England, and it's here in the charming village of Ramsbottom, Lancashire, near Manchester, where you will find the Black Pudding Throwing Championship. Each year, contestants chuck three bits of black pudding towards a pile of Yorkshire pudding (a specialty from the rival county) on a pedestal, with the person who knocks the most off being declared the winner.

Tip: If you make a run to "Rammy" to scout out black pudding throwing for yourself, make a pitstop at the Eagle & Child as they serve great pub food alongside sweeping views of the surrounding hills.

Wife Carrying

Born from a legend of rural Finnish "stealing" women from neighboring villages, wife carrying is the ultimate test of a marriage.

Taking place each July in the town of Sonkajarvi, Finland, the "husbands" compete to see who can carry a "wife" the fasted down an 800-foot-long track, which sees them wading through water and climbing several obstacles.

Extreme Sitting

Are you intrigued by skateboard tricks but concerned they're a little too much work? May we present extreme sitting, or as it's known in its native Germany: sporthocking.

Extreme sitters toss, spin and kick a bongo-shaped stool into the air before slamming it down on the ground and planting their posterior on it. We're not making this up.

Toe Wrestling

Another bizarre British battle, toe wrestling is not for the faint of heart-or those who only want to play footsie.

Toe wrestlers sit opposite each other with their digits locked together and their hands on the ground. Then after the whistle blows, they try to shove their opponent's foot into a piece of wood set up next to the contestants.

Naturally, when a point is scored, it's called a "toe-down".


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Scott Hartbeck

Scott Hartbeck

Editor true scotthartbeck 9309 14744 Born and raised in the USA but now based in the UK, Scott is a Europe travel expert who has been exploring the continent for over 20 years. He specializes in European rail and discovering underrated destinations & experiences

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