In an attempt to educate and amuse my cruising friends all over the world I sometimes write posts about Finnish events. A couple of weeks ago I wrote my first bit about bizarre Finnish sporting contests, and I didn’t even mention the obvious one: who can withstand a hot sauna the longest.
Yesterday, the annual World Sauna Championships in Finland ended with the death of one of the finalists, a Russian. The other finalist, a Finn who has won the last 5 World Championships , was taken to hospital after collapsing.
The Russian on the left, the Finn on the right.
All competitors need to sign in to the competition with a doctor’s certificate. At the start the temperature is 110C. Then half a litre of water is poured on the stove every 30 seconds, last man in the sauna is champion.
(Source: news.bbc.co.uk)
The championships have been held in Heinola (138km north of Helsinki) since 1999. This year they had over 130 participants from 15 countries. According to the organisers there will be no more championships in the future – this was the last time. However, I do not believe that the sauna championships are over. The Finns are unable to resist this kind of events and the sauna is almost a national symbol.
Until somebody starts the World Sauna Championships again, we have to make do with other crazy “sports”, why not try the sitting naked on an ant’s nest?