In the world of sports, popularity and participation are the most important factors. Without players or spectators, any sport will quickly be forgotten and disappear (although this is not always for the worse).
We present you the most unusual and forgotten sports games.
5. Eel pull
Opens the top 5 most unusual and forgotten sports games a violent pastime popular in the Netherlands in the 19th century. There were two main varieties of this sport. One of them is the classic tug-of-war played by a soapy eel. The second is an attempt to grab an eel suspended above the canal. The participants of the fun sailed along the canal on a boat and had to jump to grab a fish hanging on a rope. For many athletes, this ended with a swim in cold water.
4. Throwing at a rooster
This unusual and deservedly forgotten blood sport was known in England until the 18th century. The rooster was tied to a pole, and the players threw various objects at it: from sharp sticks to clubs (when there were no sticks at hand). If the player hit a rooster without killing it, they were allowed to attempt to finish off the stunned bird before it awoke. In case of luck, the winner took the trophy for himself.
The tradition of throwing at the rooster was associated with Maslenitsa (on the last day before Lent). Also fun was often practiced in pubs, the winner received a rooster as a prize.
In 1660 the game was banned in Bristol. Upon learning of this, the indignant townspeople went to the mayor's house and started throwing dogs and cats at the windows.
3. Pitz
An ancient Mayan sports game similar to soccer. Often used as a way to resolve disputes between communities. Given that sometimes the captain of the losing team was sacrificed, it's easy to imagine the intensity of passion during the competition.
The sports competition took place on a large platform, which was surrounded on all sides by ledge walls. The players had to hit a mark on the opposing wall with a hard rubber ball. Unusual in the game was that the ball could not touch the ground, that is, the athletes had to intercept it in the air. If the ball touched the ground more than twice or the players used their hands to direct the ball, the team was deducted points.
2. Fox toss
Ancient and unusual sports entertainment was common in the 17th and 18th centuries. They played in pairs, in a large fenced area. Slings lay on the ground, the ends of which were held by team members. When the animal ran up to the sling, both players, pulling the ends of the sling, tossed the fox into the air. The couple who managed to score live sports equipment on highest altitude, became the winner. The record was a fox throw of 7.5 meters.
Foxes were not the only unwitting participants in this strange sporting game. Other animals (hares, badgers, wolves and even wild boars) were used when foxes were not "at hand". The sport was dangerous for everyone involved, because frightened animals often attacked people.
1. Naumachia
Leading the ranking of the most unusual and forgotten sports games is ancient Roman entertainment, in which warships participated. The Colosseum was filled with water, and an imitation of a naval battle unfolded before the eyes of the audience.
The first recorded "match" dates back to 45 BC. Julius Caesar ordered to dig a giant lake on the Campus Martius, and 2,000 gladiators in 16 galleys fought each other for the amusement of the crowd. And by 52 AD. naumachia became as popular and bloody as Gladiator fights. The Romans even began to incorporate aspects of the theater into this amazing sport, depicting naval battles between Greeks and Persians. Then, during the Flavian period, references to naumachia suddenly disappeared from Roman texts. Historians do not know why this happened.
1. Rolling Cheese. This unusual competition has been held in Gloucester for many centuries and is part of the traditional Spring Festival. Its essence is to be the first to catch a head of local cheese rolling down a steep hill. There are separate races for men and women. Passionate love for cheese is necessary condition for all participants. The winners take home a 4kg round of local Double Gloucester cheese. The competition annually attracts hundreds of spectators. On the number of injured limbs of participants sliding down great speed following the cheese from a steep hill covered with wet grass, commentators of the event, as a rule, do not report.
2. "Kick-shin." This martial art is one of the competitions of the Coastwold Olympic Games, which is already over 400 years old! The annual event attracts thousands of spectators and features traditional rural activities such as tug of war, steeplechase and wrestling. And also a few very unusual games, including a fun for real men "Kick-shin". Before the start of the competition, the participants stuff their pants with straw to reduce pain. Then the rivals begin to kick each other in the legs with all their might. The one who gives up first loses. The end of the Coastwold Olympics is marked by fireworks, a huge bonfire and a torchlight procession.
3. "Football in the mud." The founders of traditional football came up with a fun new variation of it. The main difference from the usual football is that the game takes place literally in the mud. Anyone can take part in the competition, regardless of gender. The main thing is that he was over 17 years old. The team has 5 field players and one goalkeeper. The game lasts two halves, 12 minutes each. During the break, participants, as a rule, change into dry, clean clothes. Also, players are advised to tightly fasten their boots to their feet, so as not to lose them in the quagmire. One of the basic rules of "dirty games" is that the participants have a sense of humor. The game is gaining incredible popularity, even the World Championship is held.
4. Antics championship. This fun competition, which attracts "athletes" from all over the world, is held at the end of one of the oldest fairs in the world. The Egremont Crab Fair takes place annually on the third Saturday of September in Cumbria on the northwest coast of England. It is believed that this type of competition appeared when the locals tried the sour apples of the forest. At the same time, they made such funny faces that the villagers decided to turn the fun into competitions. Which have been held since the 12th century. Competitors in antics must put a horse collar around their neck and show the most grotesque and stupid grimace. The winner is the one who collected the most stormy applause of the public.
5. Cape games in Haksey. This ancient North Lincolnshire tradition dates back to the 14th century, when a local landowner's wife's silk cape was blown away by a gust of wind. The peasants rushed to the field to bring a cloak to their mistress. The guy who caught the cape turned out to be too shy and gave it to the local fool. The fool presented the cape to the mistress, and she proclaimed him a hero. In gratitude for saving the cape, Lady de Mowbray donated 13 acres of land to the inhabitants of the village of Haksey, according to the number of peasants who participated in the race. But she set the condition that every year they would reproduce the pursuit of the cape. Nowadays, the role of a cape is performed by a leather tuba, and the participants dress up in bright costumes. The game necessarily has a Hero and a Fool. The man impersonating the Fool delivers an incendiary speech in which he urges those present to help the lady, after which he throws the “cape” into the field. Anyone can take part in the chase. The one who catches the tuba becomes a Hero. Reconstruction of the events of the 14th century invariably attracts many tourists to the town. That favorably affects the incomes of local residents. Such is truly British practical fidelity to traditions.
6. Annual Nettle Eating Championship. Every year on the second Saturday of June, 30 daredevils gather at The Bottle Inn in Dorset to try their hand at eating stinging nettles. Each participant receives a bunch of 2-foot (61 cm) nettle stalks. Within an hour, players must eat as many leaves as possible so that only bare stems remain. At the end of the competition, the length of the bare stems is measured and totaled. The one who gnawed more stems wins. The competition was born out of a dispute between two neighbors about who has the highest nettle growing on the plot. It has been held since the 80s of the 20th century as part of a local charity beer festival. Despite all the absurdity of this competition, it attracts those who want to try their hand not only from Europe, but also from Canada and Australia. The world record is held by a Somerset fishmonger who ate 74 feet of nettles in 2010.
7. "Man Against Horse". Every June in Wales, a test is held in which a man competes in speed and endurance with a horse. The running distance is 35 kilometers over hilly terrain. All participants receive starting numbers, as in a regular marathon. Riders drive horses. Oddly enough, the runners still beat the horses. This was in 2004 and 2007. The prize for the winner is £1,000 for each year the horse has won. Thus, Hugh Lobb, who in 2004 overtook a horse for the first time in 25 years of competition, received a reward of 25,000 pounds. Since 1985, cyclists have also been allowed to participate in the races. A man on a bicycle was able to defeat a man on a horse for the first time only in 1989. Among other things, in 2013 the race broke the world record for the number of participating horses, which allowed it to be called the largest races in the world. The competition, as happens in Britain, grew out of a dispute between two neighbors over a glass of beer in a local pub.
8. World Swimming Championship in the Bog. Another "dirty" competition, loved by athletes from all over the world. In 1976, Gordon Green, a pub owner in Britain's smallest town, came up with this idea. sport's event hoping to attract tourists to Llanrthyd Wells. The goal of the Championship is to swim 110 meters as quickly as possible in muddy viscous peat slurry. Participants dive into a trench specially dug for this competition in fins, masks and breathing tubes. Wetsuits are not required but are encouraged. The winner receives a symbolic cash prize. All proceeds from the Championship are directed to charitable purposes. To test their endurance, swimmers from Europe, America and even Australia come to the tiny town.
9. Gravy Wrestling Championship. This gravy-flavoured competition is part of the Lancashire Food and Culture Festival every second weekend in August. Participants wrestle in a warm sauce, scoring points for their team. According to the rules, a funny costume and an unchanging sense of humor are required. The winner receives a shiny cup, and all proceeds go to charity.
25 most unusual competitions that are held in different countries of the world:
25. international competition by body art
Every year in Austria there is a body art competition, and the participants of the festival take it very, very seriously ...
24. Toe wrestling
In order to participate in this intense international competition, one very dexterous toe is enough.
23. Future milk competition
Have you ever wondered what milk tanks will look like in the future? Yes, we didn’t think about it either ... however, apparently, there are people in the world whose thoughts are occupied with such important issue and who are willing to take the time to participate in the competition.
22. Bed jumping competition
Yes, and it exists.
21. Extreme Ironing 
In fact, it is ironing under the most extreme circumstances.
20. Art Space Competition
In short, the most unusual sci-fi paintings participate in this competition. Only the world's most obsessed nerds are allowed to participate.
19. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
This hot dog eating contest is held annually. Record for this moment makes 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes.
18. World Black Pudding Throwing Competition 
Legend has it that when York and Lancaster clashed on the battlefield in the 15th century, they ran out of ammunition and started throwing food. Until now, in honor of the battle, every year people throw black (Lancaster) pudding into Yorkshire pudding.
17. Virtual cooking competition
Now do you believe that technology has gone too far?
16. Potato Cannon Competition
These competitions to build the best potato gun sometimes attract very famous people. The amount of technology and money people are putting into potato shooting is amazing.
15. International Championship saunas
Every August, a competition is held in Finland, the participants of which must sit in a steam room heated to 110 degrees for the longest time.
14. Competition for the ugliest dog in the world
And the photo is clear.
13th International Beard and Mustache Championship
This competition is held in various parts of the world and is a way to measure one's masculinity.
12. World Conker Championships
Armed with a 30 cm string with a horse chestnut attached, the competitors take turns waving their chestnuts until the last "survivor" remains.
11. Spell of worms
Every year, the competitors come together to "enchant" the worms - to lure the worms out of the ground with screams, stomping and clapping. At the moment, the record holder is teenager Tom Shufflebotham, who collected 551 worms in 30 minutes.
10. Chess Boxing 
You have probably heard about chess, and boxing, most likely, too, but have you ever heard of chess boxing? This competition requires both intelligence and strength - participants alternate rounds of boxing and chess.
9. Bubble Gum Blowing Contest
Chad Fell, who has participated in many bubble blowing competitions around the world, is the record holder - he managed to inflate a bubble with a diameter of 50 centimeters.
8. Summer Games rednecks (rednecks) (Summer Redneck Games)
From belly-jumping in the mud to throwing toilet seats, redneck games are arguably the most important hillbilly celebration in the world.
7. Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling Competition
Imagine 30 grown men running down a hill trying to catch a rolling cheese. This is exactly what happens every year at Cooper's Hill in England.
6. Competition for children to write an obituary dedicated to Paris Hilton
Although many criticize Paris Hilton, such a competition is already too much.
5. Midget Tossing Contest
All you need to participate in the competition is a dwarf who is willing to be launched into the air, and the strength itself in order to throw him a long distance.
4. Bird Dance Offs 
Is your pet a bird? Does she know how to dance well? So we knew ... However, some people's feathered pets actually know how to dance, and their owners are happy to encourage their skills.
3 Edible Boat Races 
The only rule competition - boats must be 100% edible. At least no one will go home hungry.
2. Power Tool Racing
This is a race of electric tools on wheels along the track. Can you imagine a more manly competition?
1. Dead Possum Costume Contest
In one of the schools in Australia, a charity competition was held, during which children had to dress up dead possums in various outfits. In addition to causing irreparable psychological trauma to the children, the charity was able to raise $6,000.
Incredible Facts
Sports have always been among the most cherished endeavors of mankind. It usually starts with an accessible form of entertainment, and before we even realize it, it becomes part of the culture and civilization.
Not many species dominate the international scene at present. sports, But it was not always so.
There were times when each city had its own sport, which the townspeople loved to do in their free time.
This led to some strange games, most of which are forgotten today.
10 Squirrel Hunt
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a special kind of squirrel hunting was popular in America. She appeared in the wilderness of Kentucky, and was popularized by the famous marksmanship Daniel Boone (Daniel Boone).
The purpose of the competition was to hunt for squirrels, but not to shoot them. The hunter must shoot at the bark, directly above the squirrel. The blow is strong enough to damage the bark and provoke a powerful concussion to kill the squirrel.
For trophy hunters, this type of hunting provided another bonus - the skin of the squirrel remained intact and intact.
Such hunting was practiced at a time when the forests of Kentucky were filled with these unfortunate animals. Regular squirrel hunting has reached such a level that killing thousands of squirrels in one day was not uncommon.
The most successful hunter was often not the best shooter, but the person who quickly reloaded his weapon. The competition has always had a lot of participants and spectators, the latter liked to bet on the winner.
Fancy sports games
9. "Equestrian" long jump
Many new sports are created by amalgamation of two pre-existing. While some of the merger ideas have been quite successful, others can hardly be called successful. Take, for example, the long jump on a horse.
This sport, to put it mildly, turned out to be less exciting than free-standing horse races and long jumps.
In the early days of its existence, there was a lot of interest in this concept. Horse long jumps even lit up in Paris on Olympic Games ah 1900.
However, if you're wondering why this sport doesn't exist today, the answer is simple - it failed to impress. In fact, such jumps disappointed the audience.
The gold medal was won by the Belgian jockey Constant van Langhendonck and his horse Extra Dry. Their victory jump 6.1 meters, the runner-up couple jumped 5.7 meters.
However, people were not interested. For comparison: today's long jump world record is 8.95 meters.
8 Turtle Race
Some may think that turtle racing is not a forgotten "sport" at all, it is still practiced, but there are only a few similarities between the old and the new version, in addition to the name.
Turtle race today this is a fun children's entertainment that the inhabitants of South America allow themselves. All participants release their turtles into the center of the circle and give them freedom. Animals wander aimlessly until one of them leaves the circle. Whose turtle does this is the winner.
However, 100 years ago it was not so at all. Then the giant turtles "competed" in the passage of a straight line. Crowds of excited spectators watched as if they were at a horse race.
Turtles even had riders - they were small children. The picture is very strange, however, even stranger are the stories about the origin of this sport.
Turtle racing is said to have gained popularity on Bahamas, where they were a favorite pastime of the locals. However, initially the races were held in the water, not on land, and the largest turtles took part in them.
These turtles also had riders, but they were not just "beautiful". These people made sure that the turtle did not go astray, because in the water it was much easier for her to do this than on land, moving in a straight line.
7. Stationary target (quinten)
Competitions were an integral part of medieval folklore. For a knight, there was no better opportunity to show his valor than to take part in jousting tournament and perform before the royal court.
However, tournament champions are made, not born. In order to improve your skills, knights had to be trained. This is the essence of a fixed target. Instead of one real knight, a fixed target was created, on which tournament participants practiced their abilities.
Typically, the target was a shield balanced on a pole with a counterweight at the other end. The weight served several purposes, so the target could begin to spin violently when hit. With an exact hit, the rotation was as long as possible, which, in turn, was a good indicator of the skill of a knight.
However, a slow or inaccurate hit could cause the counterweight (usually a sandbag) to hit the knight from behind and knock him out of the saddle.
Since it was just a form of education, there is very little of interest associated with these events. Anyone could watch them, and even participate in them for free. In the end, these workouts have become a separate sport available to all classes.
Even those who could not take part on horseback used wooden horse and sometimes even a boat. People could also just run towards the target.
Forgotten sports games
6. Pushing eels
People have not always been concerned about animal welfare. This was also the case with eel pushing, a practice very popular in the 19th century Netherlands.
It was the classic version of tug of war, only the rope was replaced with a live eel. The fish was soaped to make it slide more strongly, and two teams furiously pulled the doomed animals from both sides.
There was also a second version of the game, when a special rope was pulled through the canal. From it, passing the canal on a boat, the participant had to remove the eel, having previously jumped over the rope. Many finished the game overboard, thereby amusing the audience.
Most a large number of games were held in Amsterdam. The game was so popular that people continued to play it even after it was outlawed.
Trying to stop the Dutch from enjoying their favorite game had sad consequences. On July 25, 1886, a policeman ended the game by cutting the rope. This sparked a riot that left 26 people dead, more than 100 injured and a huge number of people in custody.
5. Throwing a rooster
It was a blood sport practiced throughout most of England until the 18th century. If you think that this is a cruel game where people compete in throwing roosters as far as possible, then you are wrong.
In fact, people threw a rooster to death with different things. . Most often they threw sharp sticks specially made for this purpose. If there were no sticks, then ordinary batons were used.
For many centuries this tradition has been associated with the last day before Lent. However, she often practiced in pubs. just for fun and for the chance to win a rooster.
The bird was taken outside, tied to a pole, but not tightly, giving it the opportunity to dodge sticks flying at it. Players throw sticks and spectators place bets on the outcome of the "tournament".
If the player hit the rooster but did not kill the bird, they were allowed to try to catch the stunned rooster before it recovered. If he succeeded, he took the rooster for himself as a trophy.
As with the eel, the attempt to ban cock play also ended badly. In 1660, the day before Lent, the game was banned in Bristol. A riot broke out the next day. The rioters threw dogs and cats at the mayor's house in protest.
4. Chairball
Unlike most of the other sports and not-so-sports games mentioned in this list, chairball is a game that is still played from time to time in small areas of southeast England. Its origin dates back to the 14th century.
Some consider chairball to be the ancestor of cricket and baseball, while others say it was the first game ever played. "participated" racket and ball.
The modern chairball is probably an improved version old game. There is no historical evidence of how it was played in the past. In addition, being a folk game that could be played by both men and women, it is likely that the rules may have changed from region to region.
The players hit the ball with a racket and then launched it between the chairs to score points. The racket was wooden, oval in shape and with a short handle, and the chairs played the role of a gate.
3. Epipyros
Epikyros is a common ball game that was popular with the ancient Greeks. But for serious athletes, it was not intended. The Greeks considered sports to be one of the most expedient activities in life, so athletes were extremely highly valued.
Epikiros was intended for ordinary people. Old people, women and children, all enjoyed it.
Two teams with an equal number of people stood opposite each other, and a line was drawn between them. One more line was drawn behind the backs of the members of each of the teams. The first team threw the ball, and while the opponents catch it, they try to push them out of the line.
The second team catches the ball and throws it back, trying to regain the territory given up and push the opponents away. The winners are those who first manage to push all opponents out of the line.
A few nimble players will try to catch the ball, and the rest of the team will join forces to push the opponents back. It is very similar to modern rugby or American football.
This game was especially popular in Sparta, where almost all women and children played it.
strange sport
2. Throwing foxes
Let's go back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when the aristocracy of Europe was not busy hunting foxes, they just threw them into the air, and the game was called "tossing foxes". It was played by representatives of the upper classes.
As a rule, this was a significant event, because the preparation for the game required a lot of time. It was necessary to prepare a large closed area, and dozens or even hundreds of animals.
Do not rush to drag your son away from the computer, at which he has been sitting for several hours now. Perhaps soon he will famous athletes and will go to the Olympic Games as part of the Russian team to win a gold medal.
The fact is that on June 8, the corresponding order was published on the portal of legal information. From June 18, esports will be included in the register sports our country.
On this occasion, AiF.ru decided to go through this same registry for the same unusual or unusual sports that are officially recognized in our country. There were a huge number of these, so we decided to limit ourselves to the ten most unexpected of them.
cheerleading
We have all seen dozens of American films about university life or about American football, in which specially trained girls with multi-colored pompoms supported a student or professional team. Something similar can now be found during Russian sporting events: football, basketball, hockey...
However, hardly anyone could have imagined that these girls are the same athletes as the men who take the field as part of the team. In any case, they have the same status. This sport is called cheerleading. It hosts national competitions and even world championships. In Russia, he appeared relatively recently, so he has not yet received much recognition from the fans. But the Ministry of Sports included it in the register without any problems.
tug of war
What did we do in physical education at school, in the third or fourth grade? They played football, pioneer ball and, yes, tug of war. Since then, hardly anyone has taken the rope to beat the opponent at the other end - at best, at some now popular team building, where your company sent you to unite the team.
The most advanced may, of course, know that tug of war was once quite considered a sport and was even included in the program of the Olympic Games. However, much water has flowed under the bridge since then. But to this day there are tug-of-war teams, national champions and even world champions. Moreover, in Russia, tug-of-war is still considered an official national sport, which is reflected in the register.
Photo: Shutterstock.com
Lapta
If tug-of-war had international recognition, then lapta is an exclusively national sport in Russia. When you hear this word, you imagine how in Rus' bearded men waved sticks, trying to beat off a ball thrown in their direction - something like an old Russian baseball.
However, lapta, despite oblivion, continues to live and develop in many regions of Russia. It is even taught in children's and youth sports schools in many regions of Russia: in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Voronezh, Novgorod, Tomsk, Chelyabinsk, Tula, Amur, Sverdlovsk regions and other regions. Not surprisingly, this sport is officially recognized by the relevant ministry.
Just as teenagers today sit at their computers, before there was no Internet, their peers sat in front of huge radio equipment with which they could communicate with remote cities and countries, chat with strangers from the other side of the world. And although there were no competitions between them then, the hobby for radio soon grew into an independent sport.
Now it is difficult to find an avid radio amateur, because now it is not a problem to get in touch with any part of the planet, and your interlocutor will not only hear, but also see you. However, radiosport continues to live, national, European and world championships are held. Radio amateurs compete in the following disciplines: high-speed radiotelegraphy, sports radio direction finding, radio communication on HF and VHF and radio all-around.
Photo: Shutterstock.com
If not you, then at least one of your friends at least once tried to play paintball. During the tournament, a group of people is divided into two teams, which are given special guns loaded with paint balls. On impact, the ball explodes, leaving a trace of the shot on you - you are killed. The goal is to kill all opponents. It's fun, dynamic, exciting. But is it a sport?
Officially in Russia - yes! Paintball is on the list national types sports in our country. So, if you are good at hiding behind a KAMAZ truck and “shooting” an opponent at a dominant height from several tens of meters, then you can think about the title of a candidate master of sports in paintball.
Photo: Shutterstock.com
WITH in English the phrase "flying disk" is translated as "flying disk". However, in the register of sports in Russia, this discipline is recorded precisely in the English manner. What is it, you ask?
Surely many have already guessed that we are talking about what most of us used to call "Frisbee". But this name is wrong. It's like calling all diapers "pampers" - the name of the manufacturer. For us, “frisbee” is more like some kind of beach fun that you can indulge in on the seashore or during a picnic in nature. But even in Russia, the sports side of this game is also gaining popularity - the players are divided into teams, the goal of each of which is to deliver the flying disc to the end zone, by the way, it looks very dynamic.
Photo: Shutterstock.com
If Russians playing the flying disc can still be found on the beaches and in parks, then the old people throwing balls are an exclusively European curiosity, which many look at during their foreign voyages: several people throw heavy balls into the distance on a sandy surface.
It turns out that this sport is called pétanque and is officially recognized in our country. By the way, you can watch such a game, for example, in Moscow in Gorky Park, not far from the pond with swans. Perhaps among the players there are even masters of sports in petanque.
Photo: www.globallookpress.com
Go
This sport, whose name consists of only two letters - go, may be familiar to you from movies and games on your smartphone. Perhaps you have discovered a game in which you need to rearrange the white or black rounds in order to "eat" the opponent - just like in checkers. This board game has almost 5 thousand years of history, which allows it to be considered almost the oldest on the planet.
At the same time, it is also the oldest sport. Yes, this game is officially recognized in Russia. It is most popular, of course, in the region where it was invented - in Asia (China, Japan, Korea). The number of players makes go one of the most popular sports on the planet. True, in Russia about 80 thousand people are engaged in this sport. But this is more than you could imagine.
Photo: www.globallookpress.com
It is unlikely that when you went out into the yard with your pet and tried to teach him to obey your commands, you seriously believed that you were doing a separate sport. But no, both cynological sports and applied dog breeding are officially recognized by the ministry.
In particular, sports and applied dog breeding includes the following disciplines: protective guard service, general training course, obedience, search and rescue service, tracking work, water rescue service and skier towing. It’s just not clear, in case of victory at the World Championships, who will be awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports of Russia - a person or a dog?
Photo: www.globallookpress.com
For a snack, we left one of the most interesting sports - the northern all-around. If you do not delve into the essence of the issue, the name sounds quite digestible. Here you can imagine some kind of skiing, biathlon, dog or, in extreme cases, reindeer teams. But no. Everything is much more fun.
How do you, for example, such a discipline as running with a stick? They run, by the way, for 2 and 3 kilometers. But this is not the most surprising. The northern all-around also includes throwing an ax at a distance - and not a single old pawnbroker will run away. Against this background, jumping over sleds looks quite normal.
The last discipline is called ... throwing a tynzyan on a polecat. But you can tell a little more about it. Tynzyan - 30-meter lasso. It is thrown, standing on the border of a circle with a radius of 15 meters. You need to get on a 6-meter pole installed in the center of the circle. It's called a chorus. And, yes, all these are official sports in the Russian Federation.
