The Nathan's International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual competitive eating competition held at Nathan's Famous Corporation's original and best-known restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. The event is held on July 4 (except Sundays, when it is held July 5, which is Independence Day Observed), and is regarded as the world's most famous hot dog eating contest and a colorful tradition of Independence Day in the United States. In 2006, over 30,000 spectators attended the event, and an additional 1.5 million households watched it live on ESPN.
Rules
Only adults 18 years or older who fulfill one of the following four conditions may compete:
* Being the reigning champion
* Winning a regional qualifying contest for that season
* Qualifying as the season's wildcard (highest average qualifier score without winning a single qualifer)
* Special invitation by IFOCE
The IFOCE has sanctioned the event since 1997. Today entrants cannot be from any non-IFOCE competitive eating organizations or their invitations will be revoked.
Rules used in the early years of the contest were different than today's. For example, in past contests minors could compete (Birgit Felden was 17 when she won the 1984 contest.)
During the event, the field of about 20 contestants stands on a raised platform behind a 30-foot-long table with drinks and Nathan's Famous hot dogs in buns. Most contestants drink water, but other kinds of drinks can and have been used. Condiments are allowed, but are usually not used. The hot dogs themselves are allowed to cool slightly after grilling to prevent possible mouth burns. Whomever consumes (and keeps down) the most hot dogs and buns ("HDBs") in twelve minutes is declared the winner. A designated scorekeeper is paired with each contestant who flips a number board counting the hot dogs consumed. Partially eaten hot dogs count and the granularity of measurement is eighths of a length. Hot dogs still in the mouth at the end of the 12 minutes count only if they are swallowed. There can be deductions in score for excess HDB debris. Both hands may be used. After the winner is declared, a plate with the number of hot dogs eaten by the winner is brought out.
Prizes
Winners receive a trophy, two cases of Nathan's Famous hot dogs, and in some years a non-cash prize donated by a sponsor. For example, in 2004 Orbitz donated a travel package to the winner.
In 2007, for the first time, there will be cash awarded to the winners. $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded in 2007 as follows[4]:
Joey Chestnut of San Jose, California won the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, beating Takeru Kobayashi of Nagano, Japan in a five-dog overtime after both ate 59 Nathan's Famous hot dogs and buns in the 10-minute regulation match.
The two competitors were tied at 59 hot dogs and buns at the end of the 10-minute contest. To settle the contest, Major League Eating officials contest organizers held an overtime round. Chestnut and Kobayashi were each given a plate of five hot dogs and buns. The first one to finish their plate won the contest. Chestnut finished his plate in 50 seconds, seven seconds before Kobayashi.
The victory comes after the much anticipated rematch of Kobayashi of Japan and American champion Joey Chestnut. Kobayashi sought to regain his title as world eating champion on July 4, 2008, as he competed against Chestnut at the 93rd annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island, NY.
In 2007, the world watched in awe as Joey Chestnut won this classic Independence Day battle, beating six-time champion Kobayashi by eating 66 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes, and bringing the Mustard Yellow Belt back to American soil for the first time this century.
The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest has been held each year since 1916, according to archives. This year's contest may have been the most highly anticipated match-up in the event's storied 93-year history.
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