Random sports stuff

Some people can find joy in the simplest of things. Example: over a thousand people gathered on the outskirts of Tokyo this weekend to dig holes. Really.

Reuters reports that an enthusiastic crowd turned out to dig their way to victory in the Japan All-National Hole Digging Competition.

Yes, digging holes is now a competitive sport, who would’ve guessed it? Although it is Japan – the country that brought the sporting world wonders such as Botashi, a sport where people basically knock over a pole, and baby cry sumo – where sumo wrestlers shove crying babies in their opponents face.

What do constants at the Hole Digging Competition get if they win? First prize is the elusive Golden Shovel and a respectable 100,000 yen (€998) which can be used to buy deep-freeze for their aching muscles.

The annual competition, which is now in its 12^th year, drew 259 teams from around the country who desperately wanted to test their hole-digging prowess and attempt to win the Golden Shovel.

At the blow of a whistle, contestants (who had dressed up in costumes for this prestigious event) started digging like mad men. Some went for creative holes, digging in the shape of a heart, whereas others were more concerned with depth, using buckets to haul up the soil.

After 30minutes of hole digging fun, the winning team had dug 3.39 metres deep.

“The whole team did their best and I really feel that we became close as a result of this,” said Tomoyuki Tsumita, a construction worker.

Because nothing brings people together like digging a big hole.