Ants bite, phones fly in Finnish summer

They carry their wives, sit on ants, throw milking stools, boots and mobile phones, here in the home of weird world championships, participants will do just about anything to win their offbeat crowns.

Normally reserved Finns say there is no better way to celebrate the short summer months than with contests that add a jolt of adrenaline and silliness to bright summer nights."Maybe we are a little bit crazy ... maybe we are just bored," said Toni Hautamakix, a sauna-championship spectator from Oulu.

With foreign visitors growing by about 6 percent in 2007 and many oddball competitions taking place in distant rural areas, Finland's funny business is also a spur for tourism.