Conventional wisdom suggests there are several ways of utilizing your old mobile phone – be it the ‘Go Green’ recycling approach, trading your device for in-store credits or donating your old phone for a noble cause. However, if you are a little more adventurous (read ‘Crazy’), your old mobile phone can get you into the record books.
Finland is best known for Nokia phones, followed closely by saunas and Santa Claus. I’ve met a few Finnish geeks and it’s no surprise that they love Nokia phones. In fact, they don’t just love using Nokia phones, they’re experts at throwing them away as well 
The 13th annual mobile phone throwing world championship took place in the Finnish town of Savonlinna over the weekend, drawing attention from frustrated mobile phone owners from all over the world. Eighteen-year-old Ere Karjalainen launched a phone the “amazing” distance of 101.46 metres (332 feet 10 inches) while the second place went to South African Jeremy Gallop, who threw a phone 94.67 metres.
The contest organizers say the competition offers mobile phone users a unique opportunity to “pay back all the frustrations and disappointments caused by these modern equipments.” Mobile phone throwing is a light and modern Finnish sport that combines the philosophy of recycling and a fun spirit. The competition originated in Savonlinna in 2000, and its popularity has grown with national championships now taking place in a number of countries.
For what it’s worth, Karjalainen’s throw bettered the gold medal javelin throw at the London Olympics by nearly 17 metres.
In fact, the contest had separate categories for women, juniors and a freestyle category as well. Netta Karvinen, another Finn, won the women’s event with a 42.47-metre throw, about three metres further than compatriot Heidi Suhonen. Aleksi Muukkonen won the junior class for competitors aged 12 and under with a 39-metre toss. Finnish duo Santeri Patrikainen and Henri Makkonen won the freestyle event on account of “style and aesthetics”.
In fact, mobile phone throwing isn’t limited to Finland. A month ago, Britain’s Chris Hughff was reported to have made a 102.68-metre throw at the Belgium Championships. While I personally find this ridiculous, there’s no denial that such phone throwing events are getting bigger every year.
While I appreciate the fun spirit, I think there’re better ways to utilize your old mobile phones. What do you think?
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Written by: Gaurav Kheterpal. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.comby:RSS,Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube.
