Top 5 sports that originated in one particular country
A lot of countries around the world have a particular sport that is specific to the nation but has since expanded or evolved in other countries due to its popularity. Though some sports have remained unique to their country of origin, with no real interest from other countries, here is a list of what sports have developed in which countries and what the popularity is today.
1. Cheese Rolling, England
This is a weird one. People run down a hill to try and catch a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. It is unclear when exactly the sport was invented but is 200 years old at the very least, with some estimates saying it may be up to 600 years old. It is an annual event that takes place on the Spring Bank Holiday which is on the last Monday of May. It is actually a pretty popular event with people from all over the world to participate in this bizarre sport.
2. Mongolian Wrestling, Mongolia
Wrestling is popular all around the world and The Mongols have their own version they call Bökh, which is an important part of their culture and heritage. This version of the sport aims to get your opponent to touch the ground with any other part of the body besides the feet. It has been around for nearly 2000 years in its current form and was originally a strength-enhancing sport practised by Mongolian Warriors. It is held all over Mongolia and also in parts of Northern China and southern Russia. The Mongolian Wrestling Tournament designed for all Ethnic Mongols was created and first run in April 2009 in the city of Ulaanbaatar, the Capital of Mongolia.
3. Australian Rules Football, Australia
This sport is fairly unique to Australia although over the years it has spread to other countries including New Zealand, Canada, England, and the United States. The game consists of two teams of 18 players who used an oval-shaped football similar to that of a rugby ball. The aim is to kick the ball through the goals which are located on either end of the field. The main league in Australia is the Australian Football League (AFL) which currently has 18 teams and was founded in 1896. The AFL odds of winning the annual premiership vary, depending on things such as injuries and home crowd advantage.
4. Skijoring, Norway
This sport was developed in Norway originally as a form of transportation but it has since become an international sport. The idea is to be pulled while you are on skis by either a dog, horse, snowmobile or even a motorcycle. It has become popular in North America, especially in Canada as well as in Switzerland, Finland, and France. Originally the Norwegians used reindeer and their version of skis for transport but it then became a pastime that rose in popularity during the early 20th century.
5. Sumo Wrestling, Japan
Sumo has been around in Japan in some form for thousands of years and is derived from a dancing ritual performed to ensure a good harvest. The participants are called Rikishi and strive to reach the rank of Yokozuna, the highest rank in Sumo. Sumo wrestlers are celebrities in Japan and they have a strict regime of diet and exercise as well as maintaining a proper public image. The sport, as it is now, begins when two wrestlers enter a circle, known as a dohyō, and try to push each other out of it. It is mainly popular in Japan but pro Sumos from other countries compete in the sport including Hawaiian, Mongolian, and even Bulgarian participants.
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