Breakdancing, Pistol duelling, 5 other strange games in the Olympics history

The Olympics is popularly known for its highly regarded sports, excellent participants and athletes, and also for the unusual games. I’m sure you have one or two games in mind. 

Let’s look at a few of such games that have been featured over the years.

1. Breakdancing or breaking game (2018-2024)

This is one of the newest sports at the 2024 Paris Olympics, although, it was first showcased in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. It refers to the instrumental breaks in music with an element of beats, and it is regarded as an urban sport that needs a heightened level of coordination and energy. 

In this game, there is a master of ceremonies who conducts the athletes who are labelled as B-Boys and B-Girls.

2. Live pigeon shooting (1900)

This strange game had a goal and it was to shoot/ kill numerous pigeons on a whim with a time limit that’s given to the athletes. This game happened for the first and last time in Paris in 1900, and the athletes were eliminated from the game if they missed two times in a row; based on the rules of the game. It’s recorded that the winner of the game, Leon de Lunden from Belgium, at the time killed 21 birds. 

3. Tug of war (1900-1920)

This probably took you on a trip down memory lane to sports played in primary school or secondary school, right? It was an event that was played at the Olympics from 1900-1920. In the game, there is a rope, a line that serves as a boundary, and several people on both ends of the rope pulling it with intensity with the aim of one group trying to overpower the other group and eventually make them cross the boundary.

4. Swimming obstacle race (1900)

This game was also in the Olympics in 1920 where swimmers were required to climb a pole, mount on boats and swim under boats. They had to travel about 200 metres down a river in Paris; the River Seine. 

5. Art (1912-1948)

This was included in the Olympics from 1912 -1948, and envisioned by the father of modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. People often received Olympic medals for literature, architecture, music, sculpture, and painting. While the participants had to showcase their talent and creativity, there had to be an element of sports present in their entries. 

6. Pistol duelling (1912)

The game took place in Stockholm at the 1912 Olympics, and the participants were required to shoot at each other, but it was not a fatal game. The participants had protective clothing and their pistols were loaded with harmless wax bullets during the Olympics. They would fire shots at mannequins that had fancy coats on them while the targets were placed on their chests. 

7. Solo synchronised swimming (1984-1992)

This game at the Olympics was for athletes to dance in water. There’s a team performing together; in unison with music. So, it contradicts its name, “Solo synchronised swimming.” It’s also known as artistic swimming.

As strange and ancient as these games may seem, they form a significant part of the Olympic history. Hopefully, in the future, there will be more games that will emerge. 

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