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Bike enthusiasts gather for world bike polo championships

Dunya News

Bike enthusiasts from all over the world gather in Geneva for World Championships of polo on bikes.

Nearly a week after the end of the prestigious London Olympics, bike enthusiasts from all over the planet are meeting far from media spotlight in Geneva to compete in the 4th edition of the World Championship of Polo -- on bikes.Two teams of three players each play a game of the maximum duration of ten minutes with the first team scoring five goals and winning the game. The rules are borrowed from well-known sports such as polo and hockey, crossed with with highly pimped up handmade bikes, made by the participants of this years World Championships who have travelled from places like Japan, Australia and the United States.Bike polo, an urban sport, saw the light of the day in the American city of Seattle in 1998, when members of the citys bike messenger community initiated the activity. Today, the sport attracts youngsters from other communities as well who are inspired by the do-it-yourself approach.Though some players would eventually like to see bike polo become an official Olympic discipline, Australian player Stephen Chamont thinks the community and activities that are taking place outside of the bike polo courts are what makes bike polo attractive.