Sports aren’t for everyone, but there seems to be a sport for everyone. For centuries, cultures of every kind have found new ways to compete with each other around the globe.
From wrestling, which began more than 5,000 years ago, to earthing, which was founded as a sport in 2013 by combining running and swimming, sports have been an important part of connection and competition for both athletes and spectators.
You’ve heard of baseball, football, and hockey, but we’ve put together a list of sports that probably haven’t shown up on your television screen.
Sheep Shearing
Popular in: New Zealand
Sepak Takraw
Popular in: Southeast Asia
Also known as kick-volleyball, sepak takraw is played with a ball similar to a volleyball. Two teams of two or four players play the game on a court that resembles a badminton court. Using only their feet, knees, chest, and shoulders, players work to get the ball over the net, causing their opponents to miss the ball and hit the floor, much like volleyball.
AUSTUS
Austus is a sport created in Australia during World War II. American soldiers wanted to play football against the Australians, but with the different representations of “football,” a hybrid game was developed consisting of both throwing and kicking. The name stems from the combination of both countries, Australia (AUST) and the United States (US). After the war, play continued in Australia, but it didn’t make its way back to the US.
Ice Yachting
Popular in: United States, Canada, Finland, and the Netherlands
Forty-foot ice yachts are raced at high speeds along frozen lakes and rivers. In high winds, boats can reach 90 miles per hour. The ice boats rest on a single runner and are steered by a cast iron rudder. The ice racing course ranges from 15-20 miles in length, with several turns along the way.
Lawnmower Racing
Popular in: UK
Underwater Rugby
Popular in: Europe, Australia, United States
As if rugby wasn’t tough enough, underwater rugby sees the two teams attempt to score using a salt-water-filled ball at the bottom of a swimming pool. The actual play has little to do with the original game of rugby other than the name. At the ends of the pool are the goals made of metal buckets. Each team of six attempts to score a goal by moving and passing the ball down the length of the pool. The ball must not leave the pool. It’s a fast and tiring game requiring frequent player substitutions.
Kabbadi
Popular in: Southern Asia
Kabbadi is like tag. Sort of. But extreme. Two teams of seven players square off on a rectangular field. The “raider” from the offensive team crosses the middle line attempting to tag as many opposition players as possible. But if the other team is able to physically restrain the raider who aggressively opposes the restraint, the team scores no points even if they’ve tagged other players. This is considered a national sport in Bangladesh and has a highly competitive league in India.
Wife-Carrying
Popular in: Finland
Legend says that ancient gangs of Finnish robbers would raid villages and make off with the women of the community. Today, wife-carrying is now a sport as women cling like acrobats to their husbands as they race through an obstacle course of wooden blocks and into cold pools of water. The winning pair receives beer – equivalent to the wife’s weight. In case you’re wondering and you want to participate, participating couples do not need to be married.
Ostrich Racing
Popular in: Africa
Ostrich racing is making its way to the United States and growing in popularity. Similar to horse racing, this sport is played with risers racing each other on the backs of ostriches. Ostriches can reach a speed of almost 50 miles per hour, while the jockeys wear only a helmet for protection.
Underwater Hockey
Popular in: Great Britain
Founded in Great Britain in 1954, underwater hockey was originally known as “Octopush”; it is still commonly referred to Octopush in the UK. As with traditional hockey, two teams face off with the intent to score goals on the opposing team. Teams are made up of ten players, with six in the water while four wait for play in the substitution area. Underwater, players are equipped with sticks resembling today’s mini stick while trying to move the puck along the bottom of the pool into the net. Players play without breathing equipment.
Cycle Ball
Popular in: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, and Switzerland
Introduced in 1893 by a German-American, Nicholas Edward Kaufmann, cycle ball is a competition held between two teams. Players ride on fixed-gear bicycles with no brakes. Like many games, the intent is to score on the opposing team, but only by using the bicycle wheels and the rider’s head to move the ball. The first cycle ball world championships were held in 1929.
Extreme Ironing
Originated in: England
For those who find household chores lacking excitement, there’s Extreme Ironing. According to the Extreme Ironing Bureau, extreme ironing is “the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.”
This unconventional sport combines the mundane task of ironing with extreme locations such as mountaintops, forests, and even underwater. Competitors strive to iron their garments flawlessly while navigating challenging environments.
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