Seoul stages longest tightrope contest

High-wire contestants braved strong winds and swooping birds yesterday as they competed in a tightrope walk over the record-breaking distance of one kilometre (3,280ft), organisers said.



The World High-Wire Championships, part of the annual Hi Seoul Festival, has drawn 18 contestants from nine countries. Each walker gets an hour to cross the wire stretching over the Han river; the fastest wins £11,000.



The 1,000-metre-long iron wire is strung from 22-metre-high towers on the banks. A safety net is under the wire where it crosses the banks, but otherwise those who fall face a dip. The contest is over three days and the winner will be announced today.

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