Cheese Wheel Rolling is an unusual and entertaining Italian tradition with very ancient origins, possibly dating back as far as the Etruscan period.
The game is played outdoors on roads or specially designed tracks. Players compete individually or in groups, including pairs, trios, and teams. Instead of a wooden disc, they use a real wheel of aged cheese.
A rope or cord is wrapped around the outside of the cheese wheel. When the player throws it, the rope unwinds and creates the spinning force needed to send the wheel rolling along the course.
Cheese wheels are divided into different weight categories, ranging from around 1 kg to more than 25 kg. The winner is the player or team that covers the greatest distance using the same number of throws as the other competitors.
Best of all, the winning player traditionally takes home the cheese wheel as the prize — making this one sport where victory can also be delicious.
