Monday, August 15, 2005

Quantity Speed Eating: Is It A Sport?

As you probably have noticed the latest round of eating contests has been getting some heavy press. From allheadlinenews.com "Tokyo, Japan (AHN) - Japan has got a new speed-eater. The country's champion speed-eater has won his second contest in two days by eating 100 roasted pork buns in 12 minutes in Hong Kong.

Takeru Kobayashi, Japan's new speed-eater champion, ate twice as many buns as the first runner-up, Johnny Wu, who only managed to down 47.

From Mail & Guardian Online - A week after she gorged on bratwurst and grilled-cheese sandwiches, one of the world's top competitive eaters gobbled down 44 lobsters in 12 minutes on Saturday to set a new speed-eating record.

Sonya Thomas, who weighs 44,5kg, humbled her bigger male competitors as she consumed 5,13kg of lobster meat, breaking the old record of 4,43kg she set last year.

I have heard arguments that these contests should be classified as actual 'sports', which The FatPride Times does not endorse. This is not sport by definition. I am not sure what to classify eating contests as, but they are just sideshows or events. Your comments are requested.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

practice makes perfect.

Anonymous said...

I have watched these on the television, and I think they are a sport. These people train and have to win numerous low level events to get to the big name games. Sorry, FP Times but I am going against your take on this one. Also, because there is cheating in these contests that makes it a sport.

Anonymous said...

Let the babies have their bottle

Anonymous said...

Sport
sport ( P )Pronunciation Key (spĂ´rt, sprt)
n.Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.A particular form of this activity.
An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.An active pastime; recreation.Mockery; jest: He made sport of his own looks.An object of mockery, jest, or play: treated our interests as sport.A joking mood or attitude: She made the remark in sport.One known for the manner of one's acceptance of rules, especially of a game, or of a difficult situation: a poor sport.Informal. One who accepts rules or difficult situations well.Informal. A pleasant companion: was a real sport during the trip.

Anonymous said...

can't we all just get along....