Hong Kong men carry-off wives in Valentine's contest

HONG KONG (Reuters Life!) - In the runup to Valentine's day, Hong Kong held its first wife-carrying contest on Wednesday, a tradition originating in ancient Finland when bandits stole off with women from neighboring villages.

Looking to marry sport, fun and romance -- 15 regular Hong Kong couples hopped onto one another while watched by hundreds of in a busy shopping centre in the former British colony.

The men, some donning superhero outfits and Chinese wedding costumes carried wives and lovers on their backs, then dashed over obstacles and scooped up roses from among pools of pink heart-shaped balloons.

Some competitors, ranging from teens to septuagenarians, clearly enjoyed the task of sweeping loved ones off their feet.

"It's our first time, we're very happy," said the 60-year old wife of 70-year old Wong Chi-hung, the oldest contestant.

Married for 36 years, Wong said he'd buy his wife "whatever she liked" on Valentine's Day after her ordeal.

The wife-carrying tradition originated in Finland in the late 1800's when bandits hoisted off young women from rival villages.

Wife-carrying competitions including the world championships are held regularly in Finland. Women are carried either by piggyback, fireman-style over the shoulders, or by deploying the so-called "Estonian carry" with the wife suspended upside-down, her legs flung over the man's shoulders.

The eventual winners of the Hong Kong contest -- Michael and Cora Fung, dressed as Superman and Wonder woman, said such piggy-backing, like marriage, had its challenges.