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Last Words
Truly "mobile": Latvia hosts phone throwing championship
By NDTV Correspondent
Sunday, January 12, 2003 (Riga)
Mobile phones are sometimes a blessing, but often an irritation. Now for those so frustrated with their mobile phone that smashing it seems the most deserving end, there's a new sport - phone throwing, Latvian style...!
Around 300 mobile phone throwers gathered in the Latvian capital, Riga, for their first national "Flying mobile" championship. Despite the freezing cold, they welcomed the New Year by seeing off their old phones, throwing them as far as possible for a $1,000 first prize.
Those frustrated with poor reception, flat batteries, or even technology passing them by, got their chance to ease their frustrations. At the same time, they competed for prizes and the possibility of participating in the fourth world championships in Finland this August.
Style and grace varied from one competitor to another. But according to the organizers, the "freestyle" was the most popular technique.
"Throwing mobiles is an absolutely normal sport – it's no different from any other," insisted Andris, one of the competitors.
Among the judges was a legendary Olympic javelin champion from 1968, Yanis Lusis, who gave the sport his backing. "What can be better than fresh air and good entertainment?" he remarked.
The winner, Edy, threw the phone 54.9 metres. The prize wasn't another phone, but a holiday to any chosen destination to the value of $1,000.
Incidentally, the world record in mobile phone throwing is 66.72 metres, set by Petri Valta using a Nokia 5110 mobile phone.
The full article with a picture at NDTV
Links:
2002 mobile phone throwing world championships.
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