They carry their wives, sit on ants, throw milking stools, boots and cellphones — here in the home of weird world championships, participants will do just about anything to win their offbeat crowns.
Normally reserved Finns say there is no better way to celebrate the short summer months than with contests that add a jolt of adrenaline and silliness to bright summer nights.
”Maybe we are a little bit crazy … maybe we are just bored,” said Toni Hautamaki, a sauna-championship spectator from Oulu.
With foreign visitors growing by about 6% in 2007 and many oddball competitions taking place in distant rural areas, Finland’s funny business is also a spur for tourism.
Most of the 50 or so competitions that take place over the three summer months — many billed grandly as world championships — started at summer fairs or as village affairs. – Reuters