Skittles

Skittles (gorodki) is a traditional Russian folk game. The players take turns to throw bats or sticks with the aim of knocking down five skittles (cylindrical wooden stumps) arranged in various configurations. The pitch is known as the “town” or gorod, while the skittles themselves are called gorodki (“little towns”). The winner is the player or team who knocks down the figures at the least number of attempts. Although the game has existed in Russia for several centuries, the rules were only codified in 1923.