Every year on July 4, US Independence Day, the Nathan's Famous Diner on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in New York hosts the International Hot Dog Eating Contest. The winners of the regional competitions compete for the main prize of the competition, a mustard or pink belt, which is accompanied by a cash prize and gifts.
According to legend, the first attempt to find out who will eat more hot dogs took place on July 4, 1916. However, later it turned out that this story was invented in the early seventies for advertising purposes. However, since 1972, the oldest diner company, Nathan’s Famous, has been hosting sausage bun lovers. The first contest lasted for three and a half minutes, during which the winner, a student at Brooklyn College, managed to eat fourteen hot dogs. Forty buns with sausages were his reward. Later, the winner of the competition was awarded a mustard-colored belt, a cash prize and gifts. Since 2011, the pink belt has been played in selected women's competitions.
According to the rules of the competition, winners of regional qualifying competitions who are already eighteen years old can take part in it. International qualifying competitions have been held since 1997. Future applicants for the possession of a mustard or pink belt are preparing quite seriously for the final battle, adhering to diets of varying degrees of severity. The multiple winner of this competition, Takeru Kobayashi, eats vegetables and water before the competition.
On July 4, hot dog lovers admitted to the main competition are placed along a nine-meter table on the platform. An observer stands next to each of the competitors, counting the number of sausages eaten. The rules allow hot dogs to be washed down with water and seasonings. The latter, however, are of little interest to anyone. In 2008, the time allotted for eating was reduced from twelve minutes to ten. The participant who managed to swallow more buns with sausages during this time is declared the winner. From 2001 to 2006, the owner of the mustard belt was Japanese Takeru Kobayashi. In 2007, the prize went from him to the American Joy Chestnut, who won the competition from 2007 to 2012. The winner of the women's hot dog eating competition in 2011 and 2012 was the American Sonia Thomas.
