12 Insane Global Competitions That People Actually Participate In

Competitiveness is an inherent part of human nature. Each year, we see the emergence of increasingly unusual and extreme sports, some of which even become Olympic events. However, the intense competition in mainstream sports makes it nearly impossible for the average person to excel.

It’s no wonder that people continually devise wildly unconventional and often absurd competitions to push human limits. While you may be familiar with a few, this list showcases humanity’s boundless creativity in dreaming up extraordinarily strange contests.

12. Worm Charming Championship

While the idea of luring worms might seem like the most underwhelming superpower imaginable, the annual Worm Charming Championship draws crowds of all ages eager to prove their prowess in this unique skill.

Participants have 30 minutes to employ creative methods, such as tapping the ground with pitchforks or drumming on bongos, to coax as many worms as possible to the surface of their assigned plots. Originating in 1980, this quirky event has gained popularity in certain regions. The reigning world record was achieved by a 10-year-old girl who charmed an astonishing 567 worms in 2009.

https://patrickcox.wordpress.com/tag/world-worm-charming-championships/ Source: Patrickcox.wordpress.com

11. Bee-Wearing Competition

A competition where participants see how many live bees they can carry on their bodies unsurprisingly draws few contenders. In 2011, only two individuals, Wang Dalin (42) and Lc Kongjiang (20), participated in the event held in Shaoyang City, China. Wearing only shorts, goggles, and nose plugs, they stood on scales and used queen bees to attract swarms of bees onto their bodies within an hour. The bees, drawn by the queen’s scent, quickly formed a living layer around them. Dalin emerged victorious, attracting 26 kilograms of bees, though he fell short of the world record of 39.5 kilograms (around 350,000 bees) held by American Mark Biancaniello.

http://mydisguises.com/2011/07/18/bee-wearing-fashion-and-competition/ Source: Mydisguises.com

10. The Tunarama Festival

Every January, the Tunarama Festival in Port Lincoln, Australia, hosts a unique contest to see how far participants can throw a frozen tuna. The event has grown into a full-blown celebration featuring arts, cultural exhibits, local markets, and world-class seafood. Since 2007, real tunas have been replaced with artificial ones to protect the declining tuna population, adding an extra layer of quirkiness to this already unusual competition.

http://www.tunarama.net/media-gallery/ Source: Tunarama.net

9. Chess Boxing

For those who’ve ever felt the urge to physically confront a chess opponent, chess boxing offers the perfect outlet. This unique hybrid sport alternates between rounds of chess and boxing. Initially conceived as a performance art piece by a Dutch artist, it has evolved into a legitimate competitive sport, complete with announcers, commentators, ring girls, and coverage on major networks like ESPN.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_boxing Source: En.wikipedia.org

8. The Bubble Baba Challenge

This unusual event, created by Russian Dmitry Bulawinov, involves participants navigating river rapids using inflatable dolls as flotation devices. Launched in 2003, it drew nearly 1000 competitors by 2011. However, in 2012, authorities banned the event citing safety concerns over high water levels. Organizers argued the ban was an attempt to restrict large public gatherings.

Bulawinov revealed that the concept of floating down a river while holding onto inflatable dolls began as a drunken joke at a party. A candid and entirely predictable origin story.

http://pashis.35photo.ru/photo_168455/#author/168455 Source: Pashis.35photo.ru

7. Nailympia

If you think you’ve encountered extreme nail art, Nailympia contestants will redefine your expectations. The competition features multiple categories, but the fantasy nail event steals the spotlight, encouraging participants to unleash their creativity and produce truly unique designs.

Contestants have just one hour to craft their nails and coordinate their outfits to match their chosen theme. Many go the extra mile by creating intricate backdrops attached to their arms to highlight their nail designs. Past themes have included tributes to World War I and African safaris, blurring the line between manicures and miniature art installations.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/floperry/nailympia#.jiLo2K1gj Source: Buzzfeed.com

6. The World Sauna Championships

If you believe you can handle extreme heat, consider heading to Heinola, Finland, where the World Sauna Championships are held annually. Competitors from around the globe gather to test their endurance in a 230-degree sauna. With over 1.7 million saunas in Finland, it’s no surprise that locals have a higher tolerance for such intense conditions.

The event spans two days, with five rounds for men and three for women. Every 30 seconds, half a liter of water is poured onto the sauna rocks to maintain steam levels. Participants must sit upright, with thighs and buttocks on the bench, and avoid touching any surfaces with their hands or forearms. The winner is the last person remaining in the sauna who can exit unaided.

Despite requiring a doctor’s clearance for all participants, the 2010 Championships saw a tragic fatality, leading to the event’s cancellation.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/article2679893.ece Source: Thetimes.co.uk

5. The World Gurning Championship

Gurning competitions are a centuries-old tradition in rural England, with the most famous being the World Gurning Championship at the Egremont Crab Fair. This fair, established in 1267, received a Royal Charter from King Henry III, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious events of its kind.

Participants in the gurning contest (making grotesque facial expressions) traditionally frame their faces with a horse collar, a practice known as “gurning through a braffin.” Those without teeth often score higher, as they can more easily manipulate their lips and jaws to create the most bizarre and exaggerated expressions.

http://benrussell.photoshelter.com/gallery/-/G0000iPugUFuCCU0/ Source: Benrussell.photoshelter.com

4. The Jungle Marathon

Known as the Jungle Marathon, this grueling event takes place in the Amazon rainforest. Spanning seven days and 137 miles, it pushes participants through some of the most treacherous landscapes on Earth, far surpassing the challenges of a typical marathon.

Runners must navigate hazards like Jaguar Alley, a stretch of the race notorious for jaguar sightings. While no attacks have occurred, participants have reported encounters and even being followed by these elusive predators. Armed guards are stationed at night to ensure safety.

Despite rigorous safety measures, the Jungle Marathon remains an extreme test of endurance. Competitors must stay vigilant to avoid venomous insects, reptiles, and even toxic plants that can cause numbness upon contact. The oppressive heat and humidity alone are enough to deter most. In 2012, only 11 out of 60 starters completed the race, highlighting its difficulty.

http://www.espenrasmussen.com/PAIN/AMAZON-JUNGLE-MARATHON-2013/14/ Source: Espenrasmussen.com

3. The Dakar Rally

If you’ve ever dreamed of channeling your inner Mad Max, racing across harsh desert terrains in a custom-built vehicle, the Dakar Rally might be for you. Originally a race from Paris to Dakar, it relocated to South America in 2009 due to security concerns.

Participants can enter with almost any land vehicle, from cars and trucks to motorcycles and quads. This two-week off-road challenge is open to licensed competitors but is not for the timid. Since 1978, the rally has seen over 50 fatalities due to dehydration, heatstroke, heart attacks, or getting lost. Even spectators aren’t safe, as demonstrated by a 2017 incident where 10 people were injured when a car veered into the crowd.

http://breakingnews.watch/10-injured-in-dakar-rally-prologue-after-chinas-guo-meiling-veers-off-road/ Source: Breakingnews.watch

2. Extreme Ironing

A unique blend of extreme sport, performance art, and household chore, extreme ironing challenges participants to press clothes in the most unconventional and hazardous settings. Originating in 1997 in Leicester, England, Phil Shaw invented the activity after choosing rock climbing over ironing one evening. Whether inspired or impulsive, Shaw merged the two, and soon after, he promoted the sport globally. Today, enthusiasts worldwide share images of themselves ironing on mountain cliffs, underwater, while skiing, and even mid-freefall. With no official league, anyone can claim top honors by combining adrenaline-pumping adventures with perfectly pressed garments.

http://imgur.com/gallery/Y4vYC Source: Imgur.com

1. The Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race

While many runners tackle half-marathons, marathons, or even ultra-marathons, the Self-Transcendence Race is in a league of its own. This grueling event is a super-ultra-mega-marathon that pushes participants to their absolute limits, resembling an endless, mind-numbing endurance test.

Contrary to expectations, the world’s longest footrace isn’t a cross-country journey or a multi-national trek. Instead, it’s a repetitive loop around a single New York City block. Competitors circle this mundane route for what feels like an eternity, covering 3,100 miles in the process.

For the handful of runners bold enough to accept this challenge, their lives will revolve around a grueling routine: waking at 6 a.m., running for 18 hours on hard concrete, squeezing in a few bland meals, sleeping briefly, and repeating this cycle for 51 consecutive days. This equates to running two marathons daily for nearly two months. With only six hours of rest, there’s no time for entertainment, socializing, or distractions—just endless laps around the same monotonous block.

While some participants are driven by a love for running, many are followers of Bengali Guru Sri Chinmoy, who taught that spiritual growth comes from conquering seemingly insurmountable physical challenges. Regardless of their reasons, the mental and physical fortitude required to finish this race is undeniably admirable.

http://3100.lebedev.org.ua/en/archives/5008 Source: 3100.lebedev.org.ua