Many sports, like football and basketball, have large fan bases. There are often debates about which sport is the most popular, but there is less debate about the most unpopular. Here are some of the most unusual and bizarre sports worldwide:
Extreme Ironing
Extreme Ironing is one of the most bizarre extreme sports in the world. Contestants compete in dangerous and remote locations. They take along an iron, ironing board, and clothing to iron. The idea began in 1997 as a way to combine an exciting, dangerous experience with a dull activity. At Extreme Ironing International in 1999, it was first recognized as a sport.
At the Winter Olympics, extreme sports like ski jumping, snowboarding, speed skating, and ice hockey are exciting to watch. With the legalization of online sports, you can bet in Pennsylvania and many other US states on these Olympic games. It could take a while, if ever, for you to be able to bet on Extreme Ironing.
Sheep counting
Counting sheep isn’t just for helping you to fall asleep. There is an actual sport called sheep counting. Competitors have to count sheep; this isn’t easy as there are so many, and they all look alike. With about 400 sheep dashing past ten competitors, it can be difficult to count them accurately. In 2002, the first-ever National Sheep Counting Championships occurred in New South Wales, Australia.
Worm charming
The sport of worm charming requires contestants to attract as many worms as they can from a patch of ground. They can use any method other than toxic liquids, such as dishwashing detergent. A World Worm Charming Championship is held on an annual basis in Willaston, a small village in Northern England. Competitors come from far and wide to see how many worms they can coax out of a 3×3 square meter of land. The idea is to create vibrations in the ground. Besides vibrations, competitors may make sounds or even play music to attract the worms. The variety of music on YouTube today may have some great worm-charming capabilities.
Wife carrying
In the sport of wife carrying, a husband has to complete an obstacle course while carrying his wife and get over the finish line first to win. The sport was first introduced in Finland and has its roots in an old Finnish legend. Husbands may carry their wives piggyback over the shoulder or face down with the legs around their necks. The wives don’t have to be actual wives and can be any woman over the age of 17 willing to participate. The prize for winning the race is the wife’s weight in beer.
Cheese rolling
The tradition of cheese rolling dates back hundreds of years. Today, hundreds of competitors still gather at Coopers Hill in England for the annual cheese rolling event. The competitors chase the cheese down a 180-meter hill. The first person to cross the finish line wins the cheese as a prize and the title of champion. The wheel of cheese can roll down the hill at a fast speed, and competitors will often sprain their ankles and sustain other injuries while chasing it. Even the spectators are in danger of injury from the hurtling cheese.
Unicycle hockey
Unicycle hockey is a team sport similar to roller hockey, except that players try to hit the ball with sticks while mounted on a unicycle. In 1976, the Wheel People, a famous unicycle group, began playing the sport in California. In the 1980s, the game gained traction in Europe. In 1994, the sport was included in the biennial World Unicycling Championships. Australia, Germany, and Switzerland have the largest leagues, and the best streaming services will stream league games. As many as 16 countries have active unicycle hockey clubs today.
