The Indian Rural Olympics

[Raistlin]

Two men allow themselves to be run over by a tractor at the Indian Rural Olympics

Being run over by a tractor, balancing a bicycle on your teeth and watching horses dance are just a few of the events that took place at this year’s Indian Rural Olympics

.

The offbeat annual contest in Kila Raipur, Punjab, is very different from what people saw during the London Games last summer.

Instead of watching athletes such as Usain Bolt and Mo Farah race, you could instead view a number of animals being manoeuvred, such as camels, dogs and

bullocks.

Molar power: Using just his teeth, Pargat Singh lifts a plough with a bicycle tied on top

The Rural Olympics have been held for over 60 years and regularly see more than 4,000 people competing in them, with an estimated one million fans coming to watch the fun.

The bullock cart race is the pinnacle event at the games and sees competitors racing the beasts in rugged

terrain.

An Indian villager participates in a bullock cart race

And what would a sports day be without the much loved tug-of-war contest, which is very much on show here.

http://youtu.be/9gff7o5XOoM

Some of the more stranger challenges include people pulling cars with numerous body parts such as teeth and ears, and stunts like riding a bike with a burning tyre.