Spogomi explained

Spogomi, a Japanese litter-picking sport, has come to the UK. Invented in 2008, it was intended as a competition to encourage people to clean up public spaces. It is now played in schools across the country as people gamify collecting rubbish.

Sarah Parry, a 29-year-old doctor from Glasgow, is part of the reigning world champion team. The British team beat the Japanese in Tokyo in 2023, the last time the competition was held, when she and her two teammates managed to bag 61lbs (28kg) more rubbish than the host country.

The teams have 45 minutes to collect as much litter as possible, then 20 minutes to sort their litter. Teams are awarded points based on the type of litter and its recycling category...

Litter-picking may sound like a peaceful pursuit, but it can be strenuous.

“It is very physically difficult,” Parry said. “I have run 33 marathons and the sorest my legs have ever been is after winning the Spogomi World Cup two years ago.

“It’s a lot of very fast walking and you are carrying a lot of awkward-shaped items and using different muscle groups, and it’s heavy litter and it was very hot in Tokyo when we competed. We collected over 50kg so you have to carry that between you while power-walking through a busy urban area.”

It's rather sad that this sport exists.