It's time to keep score: how much did you know?

Award yourself a medal if you knew these sport factoids.

1. Which of these items is not needed for a game of buzkashi?
   
   A ball. The object of all the riding and wrestling in this national sport of Afghanistan is the carcass of a calf or goat. The sport may have originated from the custom of hunting wild goats in the rugged mountains. Read more here.
2. Which unusual sport can you watch in India?
   
   Elephant polo.Watch and wonder at this exciting sport.
3. In catfish noodling, what kind of bait is used?
   
   Human fingers.   Catfish noodling, also known as 'hillbilly handfishing', is very popular in the southern US. We recommend that you watch out for water moccasins. Yes, there are videos
4. What form of cheese is used for the annual cheese rolling competition at Cooper's Hill?
   
   Double Gloucester. That was a gimme for British players. Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire has been competitively rolling Double Gloucester cheeses for two hundred years.
5. What is 'jeu de paume' when it's at home?
   
   Real Tennis. It's the original form of tennis, played by hand and indoors.
6. In the Finnish sport of eukonkanto, what is carried by the participants?
   
   A wife. It doesn't have to be your wife. Or even a married lady. But what you're toting must be female in these competitions, which include sprinting, dancing, and karaoke. Get your entrance forms here.
7. What fast-growing sport has been called 'intellectual fight club'?
   
   Chess boxing. Yep. You heard it here – and from Time. Boxing rounds interspersed with chess matches. According to Time, 'The winner is determined by knockout, checkmate, or referee decision.' Who knew?
8. What water sport's premier event is held in Wales, although it is also popular in Ireland?
   
   Bog snorkeling. According to one source, 'wet suits are optional but advisable.' Llanwrtyd Wells is the home of this unusual sport.
9. Which event was not featured at the 2010 University of Idaho Ag Olympics?
   
   Wrestling with chickens. 'Ag' stands for 'agriculture'. They claim nobody got sick from eating meal worms and crickets in molasses.
10. What part of the anatomy is used for wrestling in Wetton, Derbyshire?
    
    Toes. The annual competition apparently got started in a pub (where else?), where the discussion turned to a sport the British could win. No comment. Really. No comment.

If you have enjoyed this quiz, try it on your friends. Suggest they start a chess-boxing league. It will make a change from the book club.

Dmitri Gheorgheni

23.07.12 Front Page

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