Sumo wrestling giants stun London: Fans are warned about being SQUASHED at Royal Albert Hall and toilets are reinforced for Japan’s 25 stone fighters who’ve been out for McDonald’s and shopping at TK Maxx
Londoners on their morning commute have been left perplexed at the sight of the world’s best sumo wrestlers strolling the streets of the capital this week.
More than 40 of Japan’s top wrestlers are in London, vying to be crowned the ‘Grand Champion’, with ticket holders given the chance to ‘step into a world of ancient rituals, extraordinary strength and rich tradition’.
It is only the second time a full five-day sumo tournament of this calibre has been held overseas.
Stars have been spotted taking in the sights, hitting tourist hot spots like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and have made colourful appearances by wearing their traditional gowns while traversing the streets.
They have also indulged in high street spending, with stars popping into TK Maxx on High Street Kensington, while two wrestlers grabbed breakfast from a nearby McDonald’s on Wednesday morning – their order totalled close to £20.
Another star stopped at The Blue Post, Soho, for a pint of Guinness while three wrestlers hired Lime bikes to get around the city.
Forty of the world’s best sumo wrestlers have descended on London for a major tournament
The Royal Albert Hall is pulling out all the stops to cater for the fighters, weighing a combined six tons
Wrestlers were spotted indulging in high street shopping, popping into TK Maxx
One wrestler popped into The Blue Posts on Kingly Street, Soho, for a pint of Guinness
Remarkably, three Lime bikes appeared to be unscathed despite bearing the weight of the giant wrestlers
‘I’m happy that sumo is back after so many years,’ one of the 40 wrestlers told Sky Sports.
‘I’m happy to be here as a sumo wrestler and I hope I can show the UK fans how fantastic sumo is.
‘I think it was 34 years ago when it was last held in London, so it is a real honour to be here.’
Organisers at the Royal Albert Hall have pulled out all the stops to make sure their esteemed guests are taken care of. Weighing a combined six tons, no stone has been left unturned to ensure the visiting athletes are primed for competitions.
‘We’ve actually had to source and buy new chairs which can take up to 200kg in weight,’ Matthew Todd, the Royal Albert Hall’s director of programming told The Guardian. ‘Our usual standard is only 100kg.’
Toilets have also been reinforced.
‘It’s the ones that are screwed into the wall which are the most challenging,’ says Todd.
Explaining the amount of food that has been ordered to cater for the wrestlers, Todd said: ‘It’s substantial. I know the wholesaler actually ran out of noodles, because we’d already ordered so many from them.’
And the Royal Albert Hall has also taken out special insurance due to the risk of onlooking fans sat on ringside cushions being SQUASHED.
Two wrestlers were seen grabbing breakfast from McDonald’s High Street Kensington
But spectators have been warned they are at risk of being SQUASHED by the 25 stone fighters
Stars were seen posing for photographs outside iconic tourist hotspots on Tuesday
Fancy a whizz around town? It’s unclear whether the much-maligned London tuk tuks could take the weight of the visitors from Japan
Dressed in their traditional gowns, the visitors did not go unnoticed on their tourist trip
Top wrestlers weigh roughly 25 stone, and with no barriers between the ring and nearby seats, a falling wrestler could cause serious harm to spectators.
The Royal Albert Hall posted on its website: ‘The tournament will be presented in the traditional style without barriers between the ring and these seats. It is possible that wrestlers may fall or be thrown from the ring into the ringside area as part of the competition.
‘We therefore advise that ringside cushions may not be suitable for those with mobility issues and customers accept that any use of these seats is used entirely at their own risk.’
Sumo wrestling is one of the world’s oldest sports, dating back 1,500 years, which has led to a number of superstitions from its fighters – including throwing salt into the air before combat.
That particular practice is considered a purification ritual which cleanses the ring, wards off evil spirits and protects competitors from injury. It is deep-rooted in the Shinto religion.
The venue also advise that young children avoid sitting on the ringside cushions during the event.
