Although some games seem to stem from childhood pastimes (or boredom), sports come about for all sorts of reasons. The World Series of Elephant Polo, for example, played over several days each in Thailand, Nepal and Sri Lanka, was created to raise money for elephant conservation.

Yes, this sport can look freakish. Elephants move surprisingly fast (remember that on your next walking safari), but they’re not exactly maneuverable. Mahouts sit on the neck to “steer” the creature while players swing extra-long mallets. Adding to the spectacle are local teams, which in Thailand has included “ladyboys” clad in pink shirts and Diesel shoes (there are even rules for stopping play if their “falsies” fall out). Sure, they get trounced by the pros, but the point is make money for elephants — and to have fun. Postgame drinking is mandatory.

Other sports are created for more commercial reasons. Australia’s Lion Nathan Brewery, for example, was looking to throw some marketing money into sports. Foster’s already had a lock on regular cricket matches, so Lion Nathan got in touch with Justin Ricketts at Octagon, a sports marketing company, about creating a new sport. Ricketts had actually been mulling just such an idea: beach cricket. The beer guys loved it. “Without them,” said Ricketts, “the idea would have just sat there or been rolled out in a small way.”

Just 14 months in the planning, with rules adapted from indoor cricket and equipment invented for the sandy field, beach cricket became a hot item, with 7.2 million Aussies tuning in to the tournament last year — pretty good for a country with 20 million residents.

Octagon now wants to take the game to other cricket-friendly countries, following a trend of sports border-hopping. One example: Wife-carrying (yes, you read that right), where a man negotiates an obstacle course with his wife (or any willing female) draped over his body. The Finns created this spectacle in the 19th century, and it’s proved popular in other cold climes, like Wisconsin and Maine.

Best of all, wife-carrying is anything but exclusive: Anyone can enter. Chess boxing takes a bit more skill, but right now organizers are looking for fighter/players to compete in Los Angeles this May. Interested? Chess boxers can win by checkmate or knockout. Just don’t forget which game you’re playing.

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