Learn English with the News: “A new sport?”

Hi people!

Do you like doing sport? Here is a different type of sport that has originated in Japan. It’s called “cup-stacking” and consists of stacking cups in pyramids.

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1. Read the text
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. Watch the video

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It might look easy, but stacking these cups into pyramid form is enough of a challenge to be considered a sport in Japan. And the cup-stacking competition in Tokyo drew participants from ages four to 83, all competing for the fastest hands title. 8-year-old Shoko Arai is hoping to win a medal this year.

– When you get a medal you’re of course happy and I like that. So I want to get some sort of medal, but I also do it because you can participate with everyone.

Competitive categories include team relays and individual stacking, where one works with a partner and each person is only allowed to use one hand. Shuuji Hirasaki admits that practicing with his 10-year-old son is addicting.

– I decided to register as a parent-child team this time. Once I actually tried it, it’s really quite interesting and now I’m kind of hooked.

Tokyo’s fastest stacking winner will go on to compete in the World Stacking Championships, which will take place in Germany in April.

Vocabulary

Stacking – to arrange (things) in a stack : to put (things) in a usually neat pile.

Drew – to cause (someone) to become involved or interested in something or someone.

Medal – a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement.

Relays – a race between teams in which each team member runs, swims, etc., a different part of the race.

Addicting – very enjoyable in a way that makes you want to do or have something again.

Register – to put your name on an official list.

Hooked – very interested in and enthusiastic about something.