How is it played? (Rules)

The wrestling is taking place on the grass of the stadium. The athletes fight in pairs and try to bring their opponent’s back on the ground, in order to win the game. Oil makes every move more difficult. So technique, balance and quick mind thinking is needed.

Sport or Game History and origins:

From ancient Greece wrestling was a popular form of martial art. In Folk wrestling the athletes are covered with oil,. The wrestlers wear a type of traditional hand-stitched leather pants called a Kiouspeti. In Sohos, this type of wrestling is taking place only once a year on the 12 Apostles festival.

Submitted by

Soho’s Wrestling Association “The 12 Apostles”

Objective

The objective of the athlete is to be the only winner in his category (each category is indentified by the weight of the athletes)kground for the sake of the community.

Benefits

Physical: Physical condition improvement (strength, speed, endurance, etc).
Psychological: Psychological skills improvement (motivation, leadership, group cohesion, concentration, etc.)

Game’s materials

Only the traditional leather pants -kiouspeti- is needeed and body covering with oil.

Is it related to an specific event or festivity ( festivals, religious or pagan celebrations)?

The folk wrestling on Sohos Thessalokini Greece is strongly related to the Festival of Twelve Apostles and takes place every year on 28-30 June. There is a special stadium only this special celebration called “Menelaos Vasilikos Stadium”. It’s a big area cover with grass where the wrestling games take place. Meanwhile, lots of people come to see the games. The competitors wear the traditional, leather pants called “kiouspeti” cover their bodies with olive oil, and fight each other in different categories, depending on their body weight. In the end of the festival, there is only one big winner.