Unusual Sports: Human Towers Competition 2024

By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw

Held every two years, the Human Towers Competition 2024 has just been held in Tarragona, Spain.

Teams from Catalonia compete to build the biggest human towers, known in Catalan as ‘castells’. The contestants are known as ‘castellers’.

The castellers, who build these castells with precise techniques, compete in teams, known as ‘colles’.

This Catalan tradition is thought to have its origins in human towers built at the end of the 18^th century by dance troupes.

Nowadays, safety, not unnaturally, is an increasing concern and many castellers wear helmets.

The Competition is very popular and attracts more than 100 colles.

The tradition has been recognised by the UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity List in 2010.

Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.’