This Sporting Life. Beach football.

I am sure it is great fun to play. You scrabble together enough people to make up two five-a-side teams, mark out a pitch in the sand and away you go. At least that's what I thought happened. And then the other night, there it was on the screen of the TV in the cafe where we were having a light supper. International beach football. Spain versus Italy. Yes, they still played barefoot on the sand but there were tiers of seats for spectators and it all looked very professional. Even the rolling around on the sand in agony when they didn't enjoy being tackled looked authentic. 

I must say, I was surprised. What's next? Beach ping pong? You know what I mean, you buy a couple of bats that look an awful lot like table tennis bats, and a brightly coloured ball. As there is no table to bounce off, you have to keep the ball in the air. They could organise leagues in two types of beach ping pong: beach ping pong on the sand and beach ping pong in the water. It might be hard to make the spectators' seating around the latter but with a bit of ingenuity, it could be done. 

Then there is sandcastle building. I am sure that has been done in individual seaside resorts but, as far as I know, never on a national scale, let alone international. For this, and for beach ping pong, you might need to work out some rules and regulations but you can always find someone who enjoys that kind of administrative task. 

Perhaps I should put together a proposal (is that the right term?) and tout it around the TV channels. After all, they televise darts and snooker! 

By coincidence, today I came across something called "calcio storico ", Italian for "historic football". It was invented in 16th century Florence and involves two teams of 27 people, having a free-for-all to gain possession of a ball and posting it through a very small goal. The original name meant something like "Florentine kicking game". The Italian word for football, "calcio" derives from this. "Calcio storico" has rules, of sorts. Sucker-punches and kicks to the head are prohibited but headbutting, punching, elbowing, and choking are all allowed. Here is a link to some photos of the game in action.

It would not be the only brutal sport to go on, even now in the 21st century. Just the other day someone died when a bull managed to gore one of his tormentors. It was one of those small town Spain fiestas. A bull is released into a small square, People enter the improvised ring and harass the bull. When he is provoked to charge, they run and hide behind barriers. This time the bull was very determined and the barrier was too flimsy. The bull got his own back! 

I am not quite convinced this is really the 21st century!