History
There is no exact place and time in history that can be defined as the beginning of the tug of war. The first origin is believed to be of a ceremonial and ritual character. Despite the fact that the origin of tug-of-war is not fully established, it is undoubtedly known that it was practiced in Ancient Egypt, Greece, India and China, where there are legends that the Moon and the Sun played this game, pulling themselves between light and darkness.
According to information from the notes of Feng Yan, which originates from the Tang Dynasty, tug-of-war was practiced by the military commanders of Chu Province during the Spring and Autumn Period (from the 8th century BC to the 5th century BC) as a way of training fighters. During the Tang Dynasty, especially during the time of Emperor Huancong, large-scale pulling was promoted, when they used ropes up to 167 meters long with many smaller ropes attached to the sides, and more than 500 people on each end of the rope.
Archaeological research also revealed that tug-of-war was also significantly popular in India in the 12th century.
In ancient Greece, this sport was called helkustinda (ἑλκιστίνδα), efelkustinda (ἐφελκιστίνδα) and dielkustinda (διελκιστίνδα), which comes from dielko (διέλκω), with one of the meanings “I slip through”. Helcustinda and Ephelcustinda were like a simple version of tug-of-war, while dielcustinda had no rope, we learn from the writings of Julius Pollux. The teams probably held each other’s hands when they pulled, which added to the difficulty of the task, since holding hands is more difficult to maintain than just holding the rope. These games were one of the most popular in Ancient Greece, as a way to increase the physical fitness and strength of the body needed to wear full armor in battle.
In Afghanistan, teams used wooden poles instead of rope. In Korea, children tied each other around the waist and formed a chain.
Tug of war was not only a team sport, but there were countries where they competed man to man. Canadian Eskimos still have a Tug of War competition called “arsaraaq” where opponents sit on the ground and pull a short rope. The one who pulls his opponent out of his sitting position is the winner.
Stories of tug-of-war champions coming from Scandinavia and Germany appear throughout Western Europe around 1000 AD, in legends of Viking warriors who dragged animal hides over open fires as a test of strength and endurance and in preparation for battle and plunder.
Between 1500 and 1600 tug-of-war was popularized during tournaments in French court gardens and later in Great Britain.
The Oxford English Dictionary states that the phrase ‘tug of war’ originally meant a decisive contest; real trouble or tumult; fierce competition for supremacy. Only since the 19th century has it been used as a term for an athletic competition between two teams pulling opposite ends of the rope.
Contemporary sport
The sport was part of the Olympic Games between 1900 and 1920, but has not been included since then. It is part of the World Games. The International Tug of War Federation (TWIF) organizes world competitions for national teams every two years, as well as similar competitions for club teams.
The oldest national Tug of War association is the Svenska Dragkamp Förbundet, i.e. the Swedish Association, founded in 1933. It is followed by Great Britain and the Netherlands.
The first international competition was held at the Baltic Games in 1964 in Sweden. The following year, the first European Championship was organized in London. From then until 1975. , the championship was held on a regular schedule, when countries outside of Europe joined, resulting in the first World Championship, held in the Netherlands. Today, the World Cup is held every two years, with continental competitions in between.
International Federation
The initiative to establish the International Federation (TWIF, Tug of War International Federation) was launched in 1960. George Hutton from the British Association, and in cooperation with Sweden, the plan was soon put into practice.
In 1999, TWIF received recognition from the International Olympic Committee again, which was confirmed in 2002 in formal recognition in accordance with Rule 29 of the Olympic Charter.
The International Tug of War Federation is a full member of ARISF and therefore of the Sport Accord organization (GAISF). TWIF is also one of the seed members of the International World Games Association, IWGA.
You can find out more about the International Tug of War Federation on their website: www.tugofwar-twif.org
Categories
In international Tug of War competitions, we distinguish the following categories:
- Open and closed spaces
- Men and women
- Seniors and Juniors – under 23 years old
- Mixed 4X4 (4 Men and 4 Women)
TWIF organizes every year the World Championship for junior categories, women and men.
CATEGORIES BY WEIGHTS
In all international competitions, the total weights of the teams are:
World (W.) | European(E.) | Closed(I.) | Open(O.)
- Ultra Perolaka | does not exceed 480 kilograms | Juniors, Women, | (I.O.) W.
- Perolaka | does not exceed 500 kilograms | Under 23, Women | (I.O.) W.
- Easy | does not exceed 500 kilograms | Seniors, Women | (I.O.) W.
- Semi-heavy | does not exceed 520 kilograms | Seniors, Women | (O.) E.
- Heavy | does not exceed 540 kilograms | Seniors, Women | (I.O.) W.
- Heavy | does not exceed 560 kilograms | Seniors, Women | (O.) E.
- Easy | does not exceed 560 kilograms | Juniors, Men | (I.O.) W.
- Easy | does not exceed 560 kilograms | Seniors, Men | (I.) W., (O.) E.
- Easy | does not exceed 580 kilograms | Seniors, Men | (O.) W.
- Light Half Heavy | does not exceed 600 kilograms | Under 23, Men | (I.O.) W.
- Light Half Heavy | does not exceed 600 kilograms | Seniors, Men | (I.)
- Medium | does not exceed 640 kilograms | Seniors, Men | (I.O.)E. W.
- Cruiser | does not exceed 680 kilograms | Seniors, Men | (I.) W., (O.) E.
- Heavy | does not exceed 700 kilograms | Seniors, Men | (O.) W.
- Heavy | does not exceed 720 kilograms | Seniors, Men | (O.) E.
- Ketch | no weight restrictions
- Combined (4 x 4) | does not exceed 600 kilograms | Senior, Mixed | (I.O.)E.W.
AGE LIMITS
- Junior category
A competitor has the right to participate in the junior category from the beginning of the year in which he reaches the age of 15, until the end of the year in which the competitor turns 18. - Under 23 years old
The Contestant has the right to participate in 23 categories, from the beginning of the year in which the Contestant reaches the age of 18, until the end of the year in which the Contestant turns 22. - SENIOR
A male competitor has the right to participate in the senior category from the beginning of the year in which the competitor turns 18 years old.
A female contestant has the right to participate in the senior category from the beginning of the year in which the contestant turns 16 years old.