Olympics 2024 is going on in full swing in Paris. On this occasion, let’s have a look at these 7 dangerous sports that people loved to play in the past.
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Naumachia: Mimicking naval battles, in this ancient sport, Romans would fill a coliseum with water and force convicts in a fight to death.
He’e holua: A dangerous sport that uses 12-foot papa holua sledges to dive head-first down the mountainous course with a goal to slide as far as possible.
Mesoamerican ballgame: With links to significant rituals and social norms that sometimes needed human sacrifice, this game was a blend of soccer, tennis, and basketball.
Pankration: Introduced in the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC, it’s similar to mixed martial arts, where athletes use wrestling, boxing, kicking, holds, joint locks, etc.
Camel jumping: Said to originate from the deserts of Yemen, this sport is only played by the Zaraniq desert tribesmen which began as a challenge between two tribal communities.
Harpastum: Similar to today’s Rugby, this old-age sport was played during the Roman Empire era.
Venetian Bridge Wars: An ancient sports competition involving rival factions from various parts of Venice that includes mass fights with the aim of taking control over the bridges.