From Wiki:
Pistol dueling was a sport at the 1906 Intercalated Games and 1908 Olympics.
In the 1906 Intercalated Games, competitors fired duelling pistols at plaster dummies from 20m and 30m.
In 1908, pistol dueling was demonstrated as part of the concurrent Franco-British Exhibition, using the Olympic fencing arena and in front of invited guests. There were no official demonstration sports until 1912. The competition involved two competitors firing at each other with dueling pistols loaded with wax bullets and wearing protective equipment for the torso, face, and hands. Teams were sent by countries including France, the UK, and the USA. The 20-meter competition was won by the French team of Major Ferrus, J Marais and J Rouvcanachi.
12 comments:
Sounds fun. I wish politicians still dueled each other. They'd be politer on the whole and we'd have more turn-over when they weren't.
The idea of the duel is a bit strange.... As if your 'honour' demands that you kill people.... [lol]
Not really, I don't think -- it's basic chimpanzee psychology, the monkey dance. When one chimp infringes on another's perceived perogative, a challenge is made, they do the monkey dance, and either one backs down and looks contrite for a bit, or they actually brawl. The duel was just a more 'civilized' way of doing the monkey dance, though it could be more lethal than the 'uncivilized' way. You can take man out of the jungle, etc etc.
Although there's *some* underlying biological imperative here, duelling (even if not to the death) is heavily cultural. Sure, people get annoyed with each other & face off - usually with much shouting and waving of hands - but to *kill* someone because a persons 'honour' is in question is pretty stupid.
Darwinianism applied to those with 'more dollars than sense'.
Oh, there's QUITE a few of *those* about... [lol]
This is so silly.
You could certainly ramp up the tension if the final round was with REAL bullets.... [lol]
Personally I think they should bring back *jousting* as an Olympic sport. I'd definitely watch THAT! [lol]
I would LOVE to watch jousting!
I was entranced by the jousting in 'A Knight's Tale'. That could be SUCH a fun sport if done properly...
That's one of my favorite movies. We also have been going to the Minnesota Renaissance (pretty much the best one in the whole country) since I was like five and have been completely enamored with jousting since then.
I think they made the joust impacts more dramatic by packing the ends with dry spaghetti so they EXPLODED on contact. Brilliant idea!!
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