Get ready for Beijing's pentathalon of drinking

It’s a year until the Olympics. Athletes who’ve spent most of their lives training in a single discipline will converge in Beijing for one chance to be the best. But training, dedication and focus aren’t exclusive to Olympians. The world of Beijing nightlife boasts its own version of the Olympics with people equally dedicated to being the best, or at least better than Bob from marketing. Here are my picks for Beijing’s best bar sports, a pentathalon of drinking if you will.

For aspiring javelin throwers, try your luck tossing darts before moving up to the big sticks. The Goose and Duck (Greenlake), and the 5:19 Bar play host to a Beijing dart league held every Thursday, which just finished its summer season and will start back up in the Fall. With organized teams, proper scoring and awards at the end, alcohol and accuracy need not be strangers.

Indulge your inner frat-boy with Beijing’s first beer pong table at Rickshaw. Played by placing cups of beer on a ping pong table, the goal is to bounce the ball into a cup on your opponent’s side, who then must ganbei the glass. Last person standing is usually the winner.

For those who believe nothing refreshes after a good run like cold, cold beer, check out the Hash House Harriers, an international group of “drinkers with a running problem.” Runs are held Sundays and the usual starting point is the 5:19 Bar at 1 p.m. According to organizer Laine Summers, the runs are usually between 8-10 km and can be in-town or out-of-town. Wherever they are held, they always end in beer, lots of beer, usually being poured on someone’s head.

If the Table Football Championships held last month at the Exhibition Center were any indication, foosball may be the most competitive bar sport around. Before Red Ball was so unceremoniously rubbled, it was the place for the city’s most heated foosball battles. These days the best players congregate at 13 Club in Wudaokou, the Drum and Bass, er, Bell Café and 2 Kolegas where they like to move the table outside.

Still not tired? Finish off your pentathalon of drinking at the Goose n Duck (Greenlake), hands down Beijing’s best sports bar. Pop free throws, play pool and get in a game of air hockey while watching your favorite sport broadcast live while sucking down one of their many beers on tap.