Ninth Annual Mud Olympics Take Place in Germany

As London 2012 attracts most of the interest, a rival event is taking place in Brunsbuttel in Germany: the ninth annual Mud Olympics.

The event has attracted 34 teams to events including soccer, volleyball, handball and mud sledding all taking place on the mud flats of the Elbe River.

According to one contestant, the key to mud sports is "to grip your opponent and force them into a mud wrestle", while the main organiser has said that skill is not important.

The events are held to raise money for a local charity that provides a counselling service for cancer victims.

Under the slogan 'Dirty Sports for a Good Cause" the Mud Olympics have raised around 150,000 euros since they began in 2004.