5-minute listening: Participants with strongest fingers first win at the ‘Fingerhakeln’ wrestling championship

3. Where did the finger wrestling competition take place?
A. in a hospital
B. in a beer tent
C. in a stadium
D. in a sausage factory

4. Which word can replace “disputes” in the podcast?
A. quarrels
B. debates
C. doubts
D. questions

5. When was the Fingerhakler Gau Auerberg association established?
A. 1906
B. 1916
C. 1961
D. 1991

6. What is similar between “Fingerhakeln” and other forms of wrestling, according to
the podcast?
A. Both require lots of training.
B. Both require competitors to wear protective gear.
C. Both involve fighting on the ground.
D. none of the above

7. What does the word “digits” in the podcast mean?
A. competitors
B. tables
C. numbers
D. fingers

8. How do “Fingerhakeln” competitors train their fingers?
A. by lifting weights with multiple fingers
B. by doing yoga
C. by squeezing tennis balls
D. by lifting rice buckets

9. What does the phrase “high tolerance for pain” suggest about this sport?
A. It is a very safe and comfortable activity.
B. It is likely to cause discomfort.
C. Only those above the age of 21 can take part in it.
D. Competitors have to train for at least a year.

10. According to the podcast, who can participate in a “Fingerhakeln” competition?
A. only women.
B. only men
C. anyone between the ages of 15 and 70
D. anyone, regardless of gender

11. Complete the following summary using information from the podcast. (5 marks)

During each match, two people who are about the same age and (i) _______ sit facing each other at a table. They each put one finger through a small loop made of (ii) _______. When a (iii) _______ gives the signal to begin, each person tries to (iv) _______ the other person quickly across the table.

1. D
2. C
3. B
4. A
5. C
6. A
7. D
8. C
9. B
10. B
11. (i) weight; (ii) leather; (iii) referee; (iv) pull

Adapted from Associated Press

Voice 1: Despite the threat of dislocated fingers and strained muscles, more than 150 men came together earlier this month to compete in Germany’s unique national championship of “Fingerhakeln”, or finger wrestling.

Voice 2: The finger wrestlers met in a giant beer tent in the small southern village of Bernbeuren. About 1,000 visitors cheered on the all-male contestants as they gulped down their national beer and world-famous German sausages.

Voice 1: Finger wrestling is a sport deeply rooted in the culture of Germany’s Alpine region and neighbouring Austria. It originated as a way to settle disputes. According to Marie-Therese Eierstock, the head of the Fingerhakler Gau Auerberg Association, which was founded in 1961, the tradition has been popular for a very long time in beer houses and pubs across the region.

Voice 2: In each round, two competitors of similar weight and age sit on opposite sides of a solid table with their fingers hooked through a small leather loop. The winner is the one who pulls his opponent across the table, as a testament to their strength and skill. The whole thing usually lasts a few seconds, and it is common for digits to be pulled out of their joints. Other injuries include cuts and friction burns.

Voice 1: “Fingerhakeln”, like any other form of wrestling, is a sport that requires rigorous training. Competitors build finger strength by squeezing tennis balls and performing specialised weight lifts using just one finger. The key to victory lies in a combination of technique, physical strength and an exceptional tolerance for pain – making it a truly demanding sport.

Voice 2: Customarily, only men are allowed to participate in finger-wrestling competitions. At this year’s tournament, the youngest competitor was 15 years old and the oldest was 70.