Men can choose any woman over the age of 16 to be their symbolic wife for the event. The winners claim prizes including the wife's weight in beer.

I want in on this!! :-)

Incidentally, from the BBC page,

South Korean sumo wrestler Hwang Sunmi mounted a serious challenge, employing a different hands-free technique to carry Kwang Duk through the 250m watery course. But his strength was no match for the combination of technique and speed employed by the Estonians, whose teams came first and second in the contest.

So Estonia actually had two couples in the competition. Mystery over.

Graham.