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Tug of war
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Tug of war, tug o' war, or tug war, also known as rope pulling, is a sport that directly puts two teams against each other in a test of strength.
The term may be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two departments of a company.
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Encyclopedia
Tug of war, tug o' war, or tug war, also known as rope pulling, is a sport that directly puts two teams against each other in a test of strength.
The term may be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two departments of a company. Often, there is a third party who is considered the "rope" in the tug o' war.
Origins
The origins of tug of war are not clearly known, though they must be very old. It may have originally have been a ritual or religious contest:
- There is no specific time and place in history to define the origin of the game of Tug of War. The contest of pulling on the rope originates from ancient ceremonies and rituals. Evidence is found in countries like Egypt, India, Myanmar, New Guinea... The origin of the game in India has strong archaeological roots going back at least to the 12th Century AD in the area what is today the State of Orissa on the east coast. The famous Sun Temple of Konark has a stone relief on the west wing of the structure clearly showing the game of Tug of War in progress.
The origins of Tug of War are uncertain, but it is beyond dispute that this once royal sport was practiced in ancient Egypt and China, where it was held in legend that the Sun and Moon played Tug of War over the light and darkness.
Tug of War stories about heroic champions from Scandinavia and Germany circulate Western Europe where Viking warriors pull animal skins over open pits of fire in tests of strength and endurance in preparation for battle and plunder.
1500 and 1600 – Tug of War is popularized during tournaments in French chateaux gardens and later in Great Britain...
1800 – Tug of War begins a new tradition among seafaring men who were required to tug on lines to adjust sails while ships were underway and even in battle.
The Oxford English Dictionary says that the phrase 'tug of war' originally meant the decisive contest; the real struggle or tussle; a severe contest for supremacy. Only in the 19th century was it used as a term for an athletic contest between two teams who haul at the opposite ends of a rope.
Rules
Two teams of eight, whose total mass must not exceed a maximum weight determined for the class, align themselves at the end of a rope (approximately 10 centimetres in circumference). The rope is marked with a "center line" and two markings four meters either side of the center line. The teams start with the rope's center line directly above a line marked on the ground, and once the contest (the "pull") has commenced, attempt to pull the other team such that the marking on the rope closest to their opponent crosses the centre line, or the opponents commit a foul (such as a team member sitting or falling down). Lowering ones elbow below the knee during a 'pull' known as 'Locking' is a foul, as well as touching the ground for extended periods of time. These rules apply in heavily weighted competitions. For example, if teams are competing to determine who goes to the world Championships, the rules will be much stricter.
A contest may feature a moat in a neutral zone, usually of mud or softened ground, which eliminates players who cross the zone or fall into it.
As a sport
There are tug of war clubs in many countries, and both men and women participate.
The sport was part of the Olympic Games from 1900 until 1920, but has not been included since.
The sport is contested in the World Games. The Tug of War International Federation TWIF organizes World Championships for nation teams biannually, for both indoor and outdoor contests, and a similar competition for club teams. In England the sport is catered for by the Tug of War Association (formed in 1958), and the Tug of War Federation of Great Britain (formed in 1984).
Teams and countries involved
The sport is played almost in every country in the world. However, a small selection of countries have set up a national body to govern the sport. Most of these national bodies are associated then with the International governing body call TWIF which stands for The Tug of War International Federation. As of 2008 there are 53 countries associated with TWIF, among which are Ireland, England, Switzerland and Belgium.
- Mountain View TOW - A professional team, based in County Louth, Ireland
- Dorton Dons - village team based in Dorton in Buckinghamshire, England
- Clonmany TOW - Have some strong pullers, based in County Donegal, Ireland
- English Tug of War , based in Congleton, Cheshire, England.
- Björke SK - is one of the best teams in Sweden, they have won more national gold medals than any other Swedish team, they are based in Boxholm, Sweden
- Holland Tug of War Club(Established 1970),from Barton under Needwood in Staffordshire,England,hold a Guinness World Record for Tug of War Endurance
- - A club that have won several World Championship medals, based in Sandhurst, Berkshire
- Based in Brisbane, Australia
- ATOWA, Australia
- Mölndals Tug of war Club, Sweden
- Croydon postal warlingham Tug of War Club
Urban legend
A widely circulated urban legend described a gruesome amputation of the arms of two Chinese tug-of-war contestants due to having their arms entangled in the rope. Research discovered that did occur in 1997, but the disarmament occurred because the rope snapped suddenly. The victim's arms were reattached after seven hours of surgery.
See also
External links
- Taking place in Minehead, Somerset, England - September 20 - 23
- Link to the English Tug of War Association
- (http://www.tugofwarfederation.co.uk/ The Tug of War Federation of Great Britain
- An interesting presentation on Life's Tug of War
- Link to the Scottish Tug o war association
- Link to the Irish Tug of war association
- Link to the Dutch Tug of war association
- Link to the Swedish Tug of War association
- (http://hollandtugofwar.co.uk / Link to Holland Tug of War club,Staffs. England
- Link to Congleton Tug of War Club based in Cheshire
- United States Tug-of-War Association home page
- Link to the Belgium Tug of war association
- GENSB International Youth Tug-of-War tournament organiased by Germany, England, Netherlands, Switserland and Belgium
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