It's not an official sport event and it will probably never be considered for the Olympics, but the growing popularity of Rubber Doll White-Water rafting in Russia saw the fourth annual contest staged near St.Petersburg. The event, better known as the 'Bubble Baba Challenge', is the highlight of the novelty watersports season in Russia, and was held over a testing one kilometre course near St.Petersburg.

Contestants are required to brave rapids on the river Vuoksa while embracing a blow-up doll, some of whom had their modesty preserved by t-shirts. The idea to use rubber dolls to race down the rapids was conceived as a joke three years ago during a long rafting trip involving only men. Since then the popularity of this new watersport has grown rapidly.