More rice, bigger chairs and reinforced toilets: sumo wrestling comes to London

The article discusses the upcoming Grand Sumo Tournament being held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, marking only the second time a full sumo competition has been hosted outside of Japan. The event will feature 40 wrestlers, weighing around six tons in total, who have been flown over from Japan. The event has required the venue to make various adjustments, including sourcing larger chairs that can support up to 200kg in weight, compared to the usual 100kg. Additionally, the venue has had to reinforce the toilets, particularly the ones screwed into the wall, to accommodate the weight of the wrestlers. The article highlights the unique logistical challenges of hosting a sumo wrestling event in London, a city more accustomed to hosting other major sporting events, such as Major League Baseball, the NFL, and the NBA. The Grand Sumo Tournament represents a significant departure from the typical events held at the Royal Albert Hall.