Sumos in Israel

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judih
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Sumos in Israel

Post by judih » June 10th, 2006, 1:32 am

Image

Not exactly eyewitnessed, but i did see them on Israeli TV, so that's a close second.

Here's the article as found at 'Ha'aretz' a national newspaper. Link: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/724798.html

Sumos make a splash in the Dead Sea on 'Fellowship and Peace' tour

By The Associated Press

Giants of the Sumo world took on the Dead Sea on Thursday, giggling and smiling as the salt- and mineral-rich water tipped their bodies into an irresistible float.

The 13 wrestlers, some accompanied by families, are in Israel on a weeklong "Fellowship and Peace" visit meant to strengthen ties between Japan and Israel, said Uri Steinberg, who managed the project for the Ministry of Tourism.

Earlier in the week the wrestlers visited the holy sights in Jerusalem, cheered up sick children at a hospital in central Israel, conducted a Sumo clinic with Israeli youngsters and staged an exhibition match at the Caesarea amphitheater.

But the most prominent event was the visit to the Dead Sea, a body of water rich with salt and other minerals in which it is impossible to sink.

The athletes warmed up by doing flips into a beachside pool before venturing down to the water's edge. They delighted the crowd of some 30 onlookers by slopping mud on themselves and bobbing in the warm water of the Dead Sea. Some of the wrestlers posed for pictures floating on their backs reading newspapers and others played with their children.

"They have been especially expecting the Dead Sea visit," said Eri Sato, who has escorted the wrestlers on their trip.

The wrestlers, who train and live together in a sadogatake, or "stable," are only allowed to leave Japan once every two years. This stable includes Bulgarian Ozeki Kotooshu, ranked 3rd in Japan, and is coached by former Japanese champion Sendai Oyakata.

Oyakata said that overall the experience in Israel has been excellent.

He added, however, that the weather was "a little too hot."

westcoast
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Joined: March 8th, 2008, 5:53 pm

Post by westcoast » May 16th, 2008, 10:22 pm

lol! they look perfect floating in the Dead Sea. thank you for posting Judih.

i am sitting here smiling :)

~westie

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