From glamorous pageants, reality game shows, and sports to art contests, competitions give participants a sense of accomplishment. And for the audience, they can give endless hours of entertainment. You can turn anything – and I mean ANYTHING – into a competition. Here are just some of the strangest competitions around the world. Take a look!
Air Guitar World Championships
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Originating in Oulu, Finland, the Air Guitar World Championships has been running for over two decades and is now held all over the world. Participants give their best air guitar performance, and whoever wins receives a special prize. The contest may seem funny or weird to some, but Air Guitar World Championships also aim to eradicate environmental problems by being on the frontline of sustainable development efforts.
World Beard and Moustache Championships
Yep, you read that right. There’s a competition for the best beard and mustache. The World Beard and Moustache Championships has several categories like Dali Moustache, where competitors must have a mustache that doesn’t extend above the level of the eyebrows. There’s also the Imperial Partial Beard which requires the hair on the cheeks and upper lip to be styled upwards without closed curls. This competition is celebrated in different parts of the globe like the UK, USA, and Norway, among others.
World Stone Skimming Championship
Stone skimming is a classic children’s game, but the World Stone Skimming Championship in Easdale Island takes it to another level. All stones must be no more than three inches, and contestants only have three attempts per session. Nobody is also allowed to run up when throwing. Whew! This tournament doesn’t look easy.
World Toe Wrestling Championship
Held in England, the World Toe Wrestling Championship goes all the way back to 1976. Played with bare feet, competitors interlock their big toes and try to force their opponent’s foot to the other side. The sport sounds easy, but your toes may suffer bruises or cuts if you’re not careful enough.
World Championship Tuna Toss
The World Championship Tuna Toss is considered the main event of the Tuna Festival in Port Lincoln, Australia. It was inspired by a method workers use to transfer fish to waiting trucks by tossing them. Divided into men’s and women’s competitions, players show off their strength by tossing a 10-kilogram rubber tuna as far as they can.
Great Knaresborough Bed Race
This race is the epitome of a team effort. Composed of six runners and one passenger, the team uses a well-embellished bed as their cart and takes on a challenging race course in Knaresborough, England, that spans over two miles. Rain or shine, players must be fit and ready to brave anything to reach the finish line.
Space-Out Competition
Who would’ve thought zoning out could win you a championship? The International Space-Out Competition is an event held in South Korea where participants do nothing. The rules are simple: players aren’t allowed to talk, laugh, or check their phones. Whoever has the most stable and steady heartbeat gets crowned as the winner.
Nailympia
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Nailympia is like the Olympics of nail design. Primarily held in Orlando, London, and Mexico, the competition has contestants showcase their nail artistry. It solely focuses on skill and creativity, eliminating any form of bias that may affect a participant’s chances of winning trophies.
Would you participate in any of these events?
