Weird World of Sports
For 17 days this summer, the world will take a break from the financial crisis, political upheaval, and maybe even the U.S. presidential mud-slinging to watch as 10,000 athletes from over 205 countries compete for the gold. What began as a modest amateur competition in Athens a century ago has become the ultimate global test of speed, strength, and patriotism — not to mention commercialism. That said, while running, swimming, and gymnastics are all well and good, we at FP are of the opinion that there are a few events missing from the official list. And so, infused with the Olympic spirit of citius, altius, fortius (“faster, higher, stronger”), we humbly suggest something a bit “weirder, messier, and more-dead-goaty.” Leaving the Latin to better scholars, here are 14 less heralded sports from around the world we’d like to see in the next Olympics.