Sports Then and Now

Sure, you’ve heard of rugby, ultimate frisbee and maybe even quidditch, but what about cheese-rolling? Odds are you don’t know what this is, nor have you tried this sport yourself. If you were never any good at soccer or wrestling or other traditional sports, why not try a more obscure one? You might just find you have a knack for it. 

While the following options may be bizarre, you must admit they’re interesting — at least in theory.

1. Sepak Takraw 

Sepak Takraw is popular in many parts of Southeast Asia and is like volleyball without using your hands. Instead, players their feet, head, knees, shoulders and other body parts to get the ball over the net. Traditionally, the ball is made of rattan or dried palm leaves. 

While the sport originated in Malaysia about 500 years ago, it didn’t gain traction in the U.S. until 1996. Still, there is only one official USA Sepak Takraw organization, and it’s based in California. Therefore, if you’d like to get involved, you should first begin practicing on your own. Then, connect with others interested in the sport and possibly join the organization, which competes in Asia for the King’s Cup each year. 

Racing is a pastime shared around the world, although the form it takes may differ depending on where you are. From NASCAR to rally cars, from cross-country to the 100 meter dash, we’ve found a huge variety of ways to race. Of course, some races are stranger than others.

Robot Camel Racing

Camel racing in the Arabian Peninsula is akin to horse racing in Europe. It’s a tradition that goes back hundreds of years, and it’s fiercely competitive. The United Arab Emirates in particular has a strong camel racing community, but in recent years the tradition has undergone a transformation. In the 80s and 90s, it was common to train children as jockeys due to their lighter weight. However, camel racing is a dangerous sport, and injuries were common. That’s where the robots come in. Read the rest of this entry →