kaatsen

July 30, 2003 4:18 AM

The world's oldest yearly sportsmatch is held today in Franeker on the holy grounds of The Sjûkelân. Kaatsen, a variant of Petola, has been played since the Middle Ages. De dei is begûn, for the 150th time.
posted by ginz (5 comments total)

I found a picture of the venerated King's Ball trophy in the photo section.

What other obscure traditional national sports are there out there? Here in Kyoto, every New Year's they still play a kind of aristocratic Hacky-sack called kemari as they have for over 1,000 years. An old illustration.
posted by planetkyoto at 6:23 AM on July 30, 2003

Might you mean pelota?
posted by Utilitaritron at 7:23 AM on July 30, 2003

*cringes* Yes, pelota.
posted by ginz at 7:30 AM on July 30, 2003

I've never heard of a game called hacky-sack before. It seems it's called footbag in the USA and was invented in 1972. Or did they just steal a 1000 year old name?
posted by ginz at 2:42 PM on July 30, 2003

"Yeah, and hillbillies like to be called 'Sons of the Soil'. But that ain't gonna happen, either." -Dr. Julius Hibbert
posted by planetkyoto at 5:56 PM on July 30, 2003