Scripps National Spelling Bee 2012: Most Entertaining Aspects of Contest

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is a lot more entertaining than given credit for.

It's a test of the mind and relates to athletics on a greater scale than at first thought. Think about how much mental preparation goes into a game plan for football or basketball. The spelling bee is nearly a 100 percent mental focus competition, and remaining sharp throughout is critical.

Here, we look at the most entertaining aspects of the contest because putting one's mind to new challenges brings out the all-encompassed competitor in us all.

For more information go to spellingbee.com.

Curiosity

One thing we can take from the spelling bee is self-education.

You're going to hear new words, their definitions and, above all else, initialize the curiosity quotient that rests within all of us.

Interestingly enough, as the national spelling bee advances to the semifinals and finals, the words become increasingly difficult. One word that a contestant in Round 6 had to spell was Gleichschaltung, which according to dictionary.com means:

"

The enforcement of standardization and the elimination of all opposition within the political, economic, and cultural institutions of a state.

"

See? Not only did you learn a new word but also its meaning. Expanding one's knowledge and keeping an open mind are what lie at the core of any spelling bee.

Prizes

For a spelling bee, the final prizes are quite impressive.

According to the official site of the national spelling bee, there's almost $60,000 dollars in combined cash prizes for the top seven placers.

That alone is enough incentive for anyone to compete in a spelling bee. And the grand champion gets a few more awards and an engraved trophy. Whether it's for an athletic feat or spelling bee, engraved trophies are always cool.

Opportunity to Challenge Yourself

Take the definitions out of it and just try to spell the words that these contestants are reeling off. It's undeniably challenging.

Even for those who were a spelling bee champion in junior high or high school, the words can be intimidating. If anything, trying to spell new words makes attempting other new areas of life a bit easier.

To some extent, stepping outside of the comfort zone and taking on fresh things are what really make the Scripps Spelling Bee appealing. No, the national spelling bee is not the Super Bowl, World Series or World Cup, but it's entertaining in its own right.

Along the same lines as cup stacking, the spelling bee does require poise, focus and control of one's mind. There's a lot more pressure on the contestants than we realize, especially when you consider how young some are.

John Rozum on Twitter.