Cities asked to bid for off-the-wall Paddy Olympics

BEIJING could shortly host another Olympics, if the Chinese authorities agree to back a wacky version of the games.

A number of cities around the world, including the Chinese capital, have been asked to bid for the Paddy Olympics, the brainchild of a Co Cork solicitor who specialises in off-the-wall events.

These events will include donkey vaults, high dive belly flops in the pool and interspecies relays on the track.

Colin Carroll, from Fermoy, is determined to get the international games off the ground, and if his track record is anything to go by he probably will.

He recently beat a three-legged race world record at the Cork City Marathon.

In 2006 he led an Irish team to victory in the world elephant polo championships and became the first Irishman to compete in the world sumo wrestling championships — despite being dwarfed by most of the competitors.

“We have sent out bid documents to a number of cities in the world to host the games. London might get the chance to host them before its Olympics in 2012.

“We’ve also had interest expressed from Istanbul, Canberra in Australia, and from South Africa,” Colin said.

The cities have until September 12 to bid for the games and Colin is hoping that cities in Ireland will be in there with a shout.

“It would be sad if Ireland didn’t respond, but I know there are places across the world which will. It would be nice if we could have the games in Effin (Co Limerick), then we can call them the Effin Paddy Olympics,” he joked.

Some of the events he has lined up for the games include an interspecies relay, featuring two animals and two humans.

“You could pass the baton to the animal of your choosing, be it a dog, an elephant or whatever,” Colin said.

The games will also include stilt races, three-legged hurdles, backwards running and the slightly dangerous blindfolded 400m.