Over the weekend (July 6th -8th) one of the strangest physical competitions in the world is set to take place in Sonkajarvi in Finland.
The annual Wife Carrying World Championships sees eager spectators and competitors from around the world descend on the town in eastern Finland.
Competitors are required to carry their wife on their back across a gruelling 250 metres course, complete with obstacles and even a water jump.
Eligible wives must be at least 17-years-old and weigh more than 49kg. Time penalties are added when the wife is dropped and no props - other than a leather belt - are permitted.
The winning couple is the one that makes it round the course in the fastest time. As a prize, the team get the wife's weight in beer!
Over the weekend, other events also take place, including a triathlon and a 'classic' race - when a team of three men take it in turns to carry the lady around the track.
A further prize is awarded to the team with the best costume.
Wife carrying goes back to the early 19th century and was thought to have been started by a local brigand named Rosvo-Ronkainen.
The annual Wife Carrying World Championships sees eager spectators and competitors from around the world descend on the town in eastern Finland.
Competitors are required to carry their wife on their back across a gruelling 250 metres course, complete with obstacles and even a water jump.
Eligible wives must be at least 17-years-old and weigh more than 49kg. Time penalties are added when the wife is dropped and no props - other than a leather belt - are permitted.
The winning couple is the one that makes it round the course in the fastest time. As a prize, the team get the wife's weight in beer!
Over the weekend, other events also take place, including a triathlon and a 'classic' race - when a team of three men take it in turns to carry the lady around the track.
A further prize is awarded to the team with the best costume.
Wife carrying goes back to the early 19th century and was thought to have been started by a local brigand named Rosvo-Ronkainen.
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Finnish event draws big crowd
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The News Team
(Tony Hill and Helen Gillilan)
Finnish Event Draws Big Crowd
