Rubbish players go head to head - 27th October 2023

Back in 2008, a new game was born which is, quite literally, all about rubbish. Originating in Japan, the litter-picking sport 'Spogomi' combines the words sport and 'gomi hiroi', a Japanese term meaning litter gathering, and sees players clearing the streets of rubbish.

Sivasit Wanarungson's competing in Thailand.

"We are runners, we love running. And Spogomi, Spogomi means sport and 'gomi' means garbage. We love to collect and separate the waste and we love sporting. So I think this activity matches for us."

Teams, comprised of three members, have to adhere to strict rules throughout the competition, including remaining inside their designated one kilometre square rubbish collecting area. Should they stray beyond this, there are severe repercussions which range from having points deducted to complete disqualification from the contest. Other banned activities include taking any form of transportation, running, the collection of bulky rubbish or bagged waste, and straying onto private property.

One hour is allotted for gathering rubbish, followed by twenty minutes for teams to separate their waste ready for the relevant recycling bins. Teams amass points based on the weight of the materials they've collected and sorted, from plastic, paper and metal, to glass and cigarette butts.

Having gained a significant global following, competitors are readying themselves for Spogomi's inaugural world cup, to be held in November in Japan. Preliminary rounds have already been completed across Japan and twenty other countries.

While the sport's an obvious hit with competitors, it carries a vital underlying message of responsibility to the planet, which world cup organiser Takayasu Udagawa makes clear.

"We created the Spogomi because the marine litter problem is becoming a serious problem all over the world. The litter is not from the sea but from the land. The trash littered goes into the ocean through the rivers, so we have to pick up the trash."