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Never underestimate humanity鈥檚 ability to turn the unusual or the mundane into a competitive event. In our pursuit of amusement, we have brought some wonderfully weird sports to the fore, which not only offer an insight into the psyche of nations but also provide travelers with an opportunity to meet eccentric 鈥� and passionate 鈥� locals.

So switch up the usual afternoon at the football or an evening hockey game for something a little more...unique. Grab tickets to one of these weird sports from all over the world.

1. Lawnmower racing, UK

Like all the best ideas, lawnmower racing entered the world via a pub. It was 1973, and Jackie Stewart was winning his third Formula One title while a group of wannabe racers from West Sussex dreamed of making motorsport 鈥� historically the preserve of the wealthy 鈥� more accessible to the masses.

Over a few pints they came up with lawnmower racing, which now has its own governing body 鈥� the (BLRA) 鈥� and a 30-race championship that runs from May to October. Most races are part of larger rural events, such as the Cranleigh Show in Surrey, where spectators can experience other eccentric pursuits such as ferret racing. The BLRA remains defiantly uncommercial and donates all profits to charity. It also advises spectators to bring packed lunches with them to races.

2. Sheep shearing, New Zealand

Competitive sheep shearing? Ewe better believe it. In fact, it鈥檚 kind of a big deal in New Zealand, which proudly hosts the annual 鈥� a lanolin-infused jamboree touted as 鈥渢he Wimbledon of sheep shearing.鈥� 

Held in the War Memorial Stadium in Masterton since 1961, the four-day event seeks to identify the world鈥檚 fastest sheep shearer, with spectators merrily fleecing themselves out of a few dollars as they bet on the outcome. The event provides an illuminating insight into local life, but it鈥檚 not all about shearing; live bands bring a party vibe to proceedings, and there鈥檚 much food and drink to be enjoyed. Can鈥檛 make the Masterton event? Fear not. Settle in to enjoy the live stream of the competition or travel to other shearing competitions in Europe, Australia and the US.

3. Lucha libre, Mexico

Part sport, part amateur dramatics, lucha libre is a form of freestyle wrestling with a devoted fan base in its native Mexico. Mexico City is home to two legendary Lucha Libre venues: Arena M茅xico, known as "The Cathedral of Lucha Libre," and Arena Coliseo, one of the oldest wrestling arenas in the country. Both offer thrilling experiences for fans of Mexican wrestling. 

Competitors are renowned for their elaborate masks, which keep their identities a secret. That鈥檚 until they are defeated in a high-stakes fight, which often requires losers to reveal their faces (other ignominious forfeits include having their heads shaved).

It certainly makes for compelling viewing, and the tequila-charged atmosphere adds to the sense of occasion. Don鈥檛 forget to bring some loose change: when spectators are impressed by a victorious wrestler, they throw money at them. The coins are then collected by the wrestler and stored in a commemorative vase to remind them of the victory.

4. Wife carrying, Finland

Legend has it this curious sport is a nod to the ancient custom of wife stealing, whereby gangs of Finnish robbers supposedly raided villages and made off with other men鈥檚 wives.

Mercifully, this nefarious activity has been confined to the pages of folk tales. But in an amusing subversion of this fabled criminal act, wife carrying continues, albeit with consenting women, who acrobatically cling to male counterparts as they navigate an assault course 鈥� climbing over large wooden obstacles and plunging headlong into cold-water pools in the process. The quickest pair win the wife鈥檚 weight in beer.

As you might expect, much lager is consumed on the sidelines too, particularly in Sonkaj盲rvi, Finland, which hosts the original every July. Competitions also take place in Australia, Estonia, Hong Kong, the US and UK. And before you ask, no, the participating couples don鈥檛 actually have to be married.

5. Kabaddi, India

A variation of a game most of us played in the schoolyard, kabaddi is a lot like tag, only with a rulebook and scoring system that could reduce a child to tears. In essence: two teams of seven players face off on a rectangular arena. One player from the offensive team, the 鈥渞aider,鈥� crosses the midline in the center of the play area and attempts to tag as many opposition players as possible. If the raider makes it back to their team鈥檚 side, that team scores a point for every opposition player tagged.

However, the other team is able to physically restrain the player from making it back, in which case the team scores nothing. An additional point is awarded if the raider steps over the 鈥渂onus line.鈥� Also, this must all be done in a single breath. Simple enough, right?

Though considered a national sport in Bangladesh, it is India that has perhaps the most competitive league. Dubbed the , it unfolds dramatically in stadiums across the country, where players twist, kick, duck and dive around the arena, cheered on by huge, vociferous crowds spilling from the grandstands.

6. Chess boxing, international

Brains and brawn combine in this thinking person鈥檚 combat sport, which brings together the unlikely bedfellows of boxing and chess. Matches unfold over 11 rounds 鈥� six chess, five boxing 鈥� and competitors (or 鈥渘erdletes,鈥� as the nerdy athletes are known) must either KO their opponents in the ring or outwit them on the chessboard.

The sport is popular in India (the believed birthplace of chess), but the best place to watch a match is in London, where spectators can enjoy the all-out action of a big fight mixed with the quiet suspense of a chess match (plus a series of weird and wonderful ringside performances between bouts) that culminates in one of the Big Smoke鈥檚 most memorable nights out. Fights are organized by and

7. Call of Duty Championship, US

It was once something you begrudgingly did while waiting for your turn on Mario Kart, but now watching other people play computer games is a bona fide spectator sport, with e-sport events taking place all over the world (and also streaming to huge audiences online).

It鈥檚 particularly popular in the USA, where fans pay upwards of 50 US dollars to watch pro players battle it out in the biggest shoot-鈥榚m-up of all: Call of Duty. The first-person shooter series, which has been a firm favorite with gamers for over a decade, has its own  and the tournament鈥檚 winning team nets a cool US$2.5 million.

In terms of the spectator experience, expect a largely male and millennial crowd, who typically sit in neat rows, clutching beers and watching the drama unfold on huge screens. And just think, your parents told you playing video games would get you nowhere in life鈥�

8. Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, UK

If you think tradition and history are missing from these unusual sports, check out the cheese-rolling competition held at Cooper鈥檚 Hill near Gloucester, England, every Spring Bank Holiday.

The earliest written record of the event is from 1826, though historians believe it to be much older than that and that its roots are as a pagan festival welcoming the return of spring. Participants chase a 7-9lb wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down Cooper鈥檚 Hill, a steep slope that measures 200 yards long, and the first person to catch the wheel or make it over the finish line at the bottom of the hill is crowned the winner. They also get to keep the cheese. The event draws thousands of spectators and athletes from all over the globe; winners have hailed from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, and the US.

9. Sepaktakraw, Malaysia

If we were to judge sports based solely on their difficulty, Sepaktakraw (also known as Sepak Takraw) would be high on the list. Imagine volleyball using only your feet, knees, chest and head to play, as in soccer. Also known as kick volleyball, the sport was standardized in Malaysia in 1960 and is now considered the country鈥檚 national sport.

With an international federation (called the ) consisting of 50 member countries, supporters of Sepaktakraw are aiming to make it an Olympic sport by 2026. With a fast pace and wild acrobatic kicks in every match, it鈥檚 easy to see why it's so popular with spectators. Major events include the ISTAF SuperSeries, the ISTAF World Cup and Sepaktakraw as a medal event in the Asian Games. 

10. World Chase Tag, international

Like most people, you probably played tag when you were a kid. What if you kept at it? What if you could turn pro? Well, since 2012, you can. Founded by Christian Devaux in the UK, is an international competition that combines competitive parkour with tag. Two teams face off over 16 one-on-one rounds in a 12mx12m square full of obstacles, aiming to win the most rounds by either tagging the opponent within 20 seconds or, for the other team, evading the tagger for the allotted time.

Not only are these athletes paid well for playing tag 鈥� top competitors earning anywhere from US$2000 to $5000 per event depending on sponsorships and performance 鈥� but the events are also televised on multiple international sports channels. The exact earnings vary, but many athletes can also secure additional income through brand partnerships and appearance fees. Not just a game for kids anymore!