Games of Strange

Turkish oil wrestling an Italian candle race, jousting and Choctaw stickball are featured.

A yearly event in Florence is a violent hybrid of rugby, wrestling and boxing. The sport of canal jumping becomes a Netherlands staple. Horse-mounted Japanese archers keep an ancient tradition.

Devoted to sports made by finding new purposes for old tools, the new sport of extreme pogo, a Spanish event for building human towers and high-speed racing in wooden boats are profiled.

Discover the growing sports of competitive slacklining, a bloodless and acrobatic sort of bullfight in Spain, and a half-frozen race that could only be conceived of in Canada.

Some strange games have ancient roots, others are modern inventions. From the Scottish Highland Games to a volleyball/soccer hybrid on a bouncy castle, all these games have competitors with heart.

Footgolf and sepak takraw (foot volleyball) both borrow from soccer. Plus, check out jet boats that accelerate to 140kph in 1.8 seconds and a unique gymnastic competition in India.