After stunning locals on the streets of London, guzzling Guinness, and forcing organisers to buy new chairs capable of withstanding 200kg in weight, it was finally time for the stars of Sumo to dazzle at Royal Albert Hall — and they didn’t disappoint.
Dozens of wrestlers arrived in London on Wednesday morning ahead of the historic five-day-long Grand Sumo Tournament, with footage of the athletes sightseeing in the capital quickly going viral on social media.
Captivated spectators lucky enough to get a ticket for the sold-out event flocked to the Royal Albert Hall for the first night of the tournament on Wednesday evening, after organisers warned fans about congestion inside the iconic venue.
Ahead of the action, social media clips had showcased the astonishing makeover the Royal Albert Hall had been given for the Sumo event, which included crews building a traditional clay dohyo inside.
TikTok videos showed off the full two-day build, from tarpaulins laid across the arena floor to the finished ring under a suspended purple canopy, with the Royal Albert Hall scoreboard flashing Sumo branding.
The sell-out crowd needed no second invitation to dive head first into the Sumo experience, watching the enthralling 20 bouts in awe.
Event organisers revealed that seating needed to be reinforced to withstand double the weight, so that the 25-stone wrestlers could be accommodated appropriately.
‘We’ve actually had to source and buy new chairs which can take up to 200kg in weight,’ Matthew Todd, the Royal Albert Hall’s director of programming, told The Guardian. ‘Our usual standard is only 100kg.’
It offered the perfect opportunity for Londoners not only to bask in Japan’s culture but also its cuisine.
Speaking on the catering bill, Todd added: ‘It’s substantial. I know the wholesaler actually ran out of noodles because we’d already ordered so many from them.’
Toilets have also been reinforced. ‘It’s the ones that are screwed into the wall which are the most challenging,’ he said.
Footage shared to social media ahead of the event showed wrestlers sightseeing around London, including a McDonald’s stop, a TK Maxx browse and a grin-filled recreation of the Beatles’ Abbey Road crossing.
Four athletes were seen in traditional dress proudly striding across the zebra lines, with a London bus and cyclists in the background.
Other clips show groups pausing for photographs near Big Ben and along the Embankment as tourists double-take at the unlikely sightseeing party.
Top wrestlers weigh roughly 25 stone, and with no barriers between the ring and nearby seats, a falling wrestler could cause serious harm to spectators.
The Royal Albert Hall had posted a safety notice on its website warning fans to take care when booking the closest seats. Fortunately, there were no reported safety concerns on night one of the tournament.
‘The tournament will be presented in the traditional style without barriers between the ring and these seats,’ the statement, posted on Wednesday, read.
‘It is possible that wrestlers may fall or be thrown from the ring into the ringside area as part of the competition.
‘We therefore advise that ringside cushions may not be suitable for those with mobility issues, and customers accept that any use of these seats is entirely at their own risk.’
The venue also advises that young children avoid sitting on ringside cushions during the event, which is to be staged in London until October 19.
Sumo wrestling, one of the world’s oldest sports, dates back 1,500 years and remains steeped in Shinto tradition. Wrestlers throw salt before bouts to purify the ring, a ritual believed to ward off evil spirits and prevent injury.
