A New Olympic Sport?

A spate of tyre slashings in the US state of Connecticut has been attributed to a local contest. According to local newspaper The Advocate, during the last six months teenagers from different schools and neighbourhoods have been competing in a new kind of team sport that leaves numerous rubbery victims in its wake.

Police in the town of Stamford have arrested a 16-year-old boy for his alleged role in 34 tyre slashings reported in April. During the weekend of April 18, about 73 slashed tyres were reported on vehicles in one neighbourhood, but only 55 victims responded to police investigating the case.

Stamford Police Sergeant Peter DiSpagna says the tyre slashings date back to 2006. He believes teens from the neighbouring town of Greenwich would slash tyres in Stamford, prompting Stamford teens to visit Greenwich and retaliate. Later the Stamford vandals then began competing in their hometown.