Fighting in a sawdust ring, the two wrestlers attempt to get their opponent's shoulders to touch the ground using trips and throws. Points are awarded per round.
The wrestlers participate in a number of wrestling events. Every three years sees a Schwingerkönig (Swiss wrestling champion) singled out at the Federal Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Games Festival. The wrestler with the highest score at the end of a wrestling event wins. Schwingen is typically a male sport; few women participate.
Nidwalden's Schwingen festivals
The wrestlers, known colloquially as die Bösen (the bad boys), meet in Canton Nidwalden for the Allweg-Schwinget in Ennetmoos, the Hallenschwinget in Engelberg, the Buebä Schwinget Mattgrat and the Buebä Schwinget Aeschi. In addition, the annual Obwalden and Nidwalden Cantonal Wrestling Festival takes place in one of the cantons' municipalities.
Coloured or white
Steinstossen (stone putting) is closely connected with Swiss wrestling and may be witnessed at the bigger wrestling events. This sport is one of the oldest of all: earliest references date back to the 13th century. It involves throwing stones in three different weight categories (20 kg, 40 kg and 83.5 kg (the Unspunnenstein stone)) as far as possible.
Steinstossen
Steinstossen (stone putting) is closely connected with Swiss wrestling and may be witnessed at the bigger wrestling events. This sport is one of the oldest of all: earliest references date back to the 13th century. It involves throwing stones in three different weight categories (20 kg, 40 kg and 83.5 kg (the Unspunnenstein stone)) as far as possible.
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