Peru's Cock-fighting Culture

What is the most popular sport in the world? Well, it’s pretty obvious: football. In fact, in 95 countries football is the most popular sport.

 

However, what’s the most popular sport in the other countries? Now that, that is very interesting, and often, surprising.

The Red Bulletin have carried out a fascinating research campaign basing the ‘most popular’ sport on the most-Googled sports in the country during the last 12 months.

 

Did you know what the most popular sport in Peru is? Thought not. It is in fact Cock-fighting. And bizarre as it may seem, cock-fighting is, in fact, an art-form and long-standing cultural tradition in the country. 

Peru is home to over 700 coliseums (or colisea for the Latin purists out there), that host these brutal fights regularly. There are numerous Peruvians whose entire livelihood is that of a breeder; toiling away to produce the fiercest of the bunch to win them prizes of up to $20,000. Couple this with the entertainment factor; people from far and wide come to a cock-fight to gamble, just like attending Ascot here in the UK, although maybe slightly different: fewer glasses of champagne and probably a lot more fun. Animal rights activists can’t fathom that this type of butchery still exists, but given how rooted this is in the Peruvian culture, it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere soon. And, baffling as it may be, it remains the country’s most popular sport.  

Anyway, check out the full report here, complete with a handy map, for more weird and wonderful sport fads around the world.