The City As Playing Field

Maybe you’ve heard of parkour, in which practitioners climb, jump and flip over walls, fences and stairs, turning the city into an obstacle course. Such unconventional sports are taking off in Germany, according to Der Spiegel.

Residents are turning parking lots and rooftops into urban golf courses. The first European Bike Polo Championship was also held this year. Players ride bikes on concrete instead of ponies on grass using mallets fashioned from old ski poles and bamboo sticks.

Instead of cracking down on these activities, German officials are encouraging them. Berlin and Frankfurt already host alternative sports festivals, and Munich has legalized surfing on its canal. Urban sports advocates are waiting to see if the do-it-yourself, anti-authoritarian spirit of these sports can continue with their newfound legitimacy.

(Photo by distrait via Flickr/Creative Commons)