Guys Upstairs - Asia

In Socialist China….even peasants need their own Olympics. The National Peasants’ Games began on October 26th, 2008 in Quanzhou in eastern Fujian province. There was a record number of participants this year, with 3,500 competitors participating in 15 sports and over 180 events. The National Peasants’ Games have been held every four years since 1988 and is said to emphasize recreation over results. The opening ceremony took place amid much fanfare as this event is the peasants’ chance to show the nation and the world what they do with their skills and abilities.

The events include basketball, table tennis, dragon boat racing, wushu, and even tug of war. Some of the not so conventional sports are Xiangqi (Chinese chess) and kite flying. One of the events involves having competitors race by pushing a tractor tire. Some of the events closely resemble activities that the peasants do, such as having to transport baskets of fake rice seedlings and plant them in a simulated paddy field. Another event is one in which peasants load sandbags (representing harvested grain) into a tricycle cart and pedal to the finish line.

[Times Online]