It’s the shadow Olympics, it’s streaming free, and it has some of the most fascinating sports you’ve never seen.
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The World Games runs through Sunday, Aug. 17, in Chengdu, China, drawing an international field of top competitors in 46 non-Olympic sports.
Some of the sports have been in the Olympics (breaking, speed climbing, tug of war), some have been trying to get in the Olympics (ballroom dancing, orienteering), and some … well, never say never. The lineup has something for just about every imaginable spectator.
Live streams (Chengdu is 15 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific time), highlights and on-demand replays can be found on the games’ website or its app.
A sampling of the competitions found less-than-enlightening commentary — let’s just say Bob Costas’ legacy is secure — but there are unimpeded views of the action, presented without interruption. And that action runs the gamut.
A few suggestions:
Life saving. Swimming pool events have the competitors rescuing mannekins and towing each other.
Acrobatic gymnastics. Pairs, trios and teams perform to music. Kind of like the Olympics’ team rhythmic gymnastics but with better throwing and balancing stunts.
Cable wakeboard. Riders are pulled by an overhead cable as they perform tricks in a sort of aquatic skate park.
Speed climbing relay. Among the U.S. competitors in the recently created relay is speed climbing world record holder Sam Watson, a Texas teenager who can scramble up a 50-foot wall in less than 5 seconds.
Dive in and assemble your own a la carte serving of oddball sports. We mean that in the best way.
THE FULL MENU
Artistic & dance sports: acrobatic gymnastics, aerobic gymnastics, breaking, cheerleading (“pom”), dancesport, inline freestyle skating, parkour, trampoline gymnastics
Ball sports: beach handball, beach korfball, canoe polo, fistball, flag football, floorball, korfball, lacrosse, racquetball, softball, squash
Martial arts: ju-jitsu, karate, kickboxing, muaythai, sambo, wushu
Precision sports: archery, billiards, boules sports (lyonnaise and petanque)
Strength sports: powerlifting, tug of war
Trend sports: canoe marathon, disc golf, dragon boat, drone sports, duathlon, finswimming, freediving, inline hockey, inline speed skating (track and road), life saving, orienteering, powerboating, sport climbing, ultimate flying disc, waterski & wakeboard