Facts about Tug Of War

Tug of War Facts

Did you know that tug of war was an Olympic team sport in the Olympics from the 1900 to 1920? Teams consisted of 6 to 8 people. The United States won 3 medals during the tug of war years at the Olympics. A gold, silver, and bronze medal. Belgium, France, Great Britain, Sweden, and the Netherlands have also won medals in tug of war competitions.  

What is Tug Of War? It is a contest where two teams pull on a rope at opposite ends of each other. The first team to pull the rope over the central line wins the game. You have to have some strong team mates to win.

Here is a list of the Nations that played tug of war during the 1900-1920 Olympics:

United States

Denmark

South Africa

Belgium

France

Italy

Greece

Great Britain

Sweden

Netherlands

Tug of war was also part of the ancient Olympics dating back to 500 B.C. After the 1920 Olympic games tug of war and 33 other sports was removed from the program because there were too many people competing.

Facts about Tug of War:

1. Tug of war dates back thousands of years and was practiced in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, India, and China. During the Tang dynasty in China, large-scale tug of war games involved ropes up to 548 feet long and more than 500 people on each end.

2. In ancient Greece, the sport was called helkystinda, ephelkystinda, and dielkystinda, all derived from the verb helkō, meaning “I draw, I pull.”

3.Tug of war was an Olympic event from 1900 to 1920. It was part of the Summer Olympic program during those years. Only in the 19th century did it become associated with the athletic contest we know today.

4. Tug of war pits two teams against each other in a test of strength.The teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, aiming to bring it a certain distance in one direction against the opposing team’s pull.

5. Different versions of tug of war existed, including hook pulling in ancient China and hand-holding versions in ancient Greece. The game was used for strength training and preparation for battle.

6. Tug of war remains popular at Scottish Highland Games, social gatherings, and even as a children’s game. It continues to be a fun and competitive outdoor activity enjoyed by people of all ages.

Now that you know some facts grab that rope and some friends and enjoy the exhilarating challenge of tug of war!