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Zanzibar's most popular sport is Soccer. Locally, soccer is known as "football", or "mpira" in Swahili. Basketball is also gaining popularity, and youths can be seeing playing the sport while driving into Stone Town.
The annual Zanzibar International Triathlon and Marathon takes place in early November, attracting many international participants. Guests and other visitors receive an opportunity to partake in these races, which conform to Olympic regulations and distances, and the race courses pass through some of the most scenic spots on the Island.
Bullfighting is a popular traditional and annual event on Pemba Island. Pemba bullfights are a relic of the Portuguese occupation of the Island, which occurred during the 16th and 17th Centuries. Drums beating, along with the men and women singing local songs make the event livelier and help energize both, the matador and bull. The bullfight is purely a sporting event, and the bulls are not killed as they are in traditional bullfighting. There are no specific dates when the bullfights are organized but the hottest time of the year between August and February is the time when such a crowd pulling sport takes place.
Canoe and Dhow race are exciting water sports in Zanzibar. They are held every January starting and finishing at Forodhani, Stone Town. Participants in the race are local fishermen, tourists and other boating enthusiasts.
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