When we talk about sports, we usually think of soccer, basketball, or races. But the world of sports is much more diverse and unusual than you might think. Apart from the regular games, some unique and strange competitions are quite fascinating. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these odd sports that have a charm of their own.

Ever heard of wife-carrying? It’s a sport that’s become quite popular in different parts of the world, especially in Finland and Estonia. The idea is simple and amusing: a husband races while carrying his wife over a specific course. But there’s a rule—the wife must weigh at least 49 kilograms. If she weighs less, extra weights are added to meet the requirement. The prize? It’s beer as heavy as the winning wife. However, this would attract more people who live an unhealthy lifestyle than the healthy ones.

In the hills of Gloucestershire, England, a traditional sport exists: cheese rolling. A wheel of Double Gloucester cheese, weighing about 3-4 kilograms, is sent rolling down a steep 180-meter hill. The goal? Participants race down the hill after the cheese, and the first one to cross the finish line at the bottom wins the cheese as the prize. But the thing is that the cheese gets a one-second head start and can reach up to 110 km per hour. It’s a distinctive race, but not without risks, as the cheese’s speed can be dangerous for viewers. For safety measures, a foam replica was used instead of real cheese in 2013, but winners still got actual cheese as their prize.

In a world that strives for strength and stamina, the concept of a sleeping competition doesn’t meet the criteria. However, the World Sleep Championship has found its place. In this contest, participants aim for the highest sleep score, which is measured using an Oura ring—a ring that tracks sleep patterns. To win a round, you just need to get a higher sleep score than your opponent, also known as the Sleep Racer. Anyone can participate, but I think it will make me more inactive when I should be the opposite.

These unusual sports are existing proof that sports don’t always have to be serious or for selective athletes. The point of sports is to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. Although I doubt the ones I named can keep you in shape.