Tug of war

Tug of war (also known as tug o' war, tug-a-war, tug war, rope war, rope pulling, or tugging war) is a sport in which two teams compete by pulling on opposite ends of a rope, with the goal of bringing the rope a certain distance in one direction against the force of the opposing team's pull. The sport has ancient origins and has been practiced in various cultures throughout history. It was included in the Summer Olympics from 1900 to 1920 but is no longer part of the Olympic program. Tug of war continues to be practiced in schools, community events, and organized competitions worldwide.

Tug of war typically involves teams of eight or more members, though the number can vary. The rope is marked with a centre line and two markers equidistant from the centre. The objective is to pull the opposing team’s marker across the centre line. Specific rules govern techniques, such as prohibiting touching the ground for extended periods of time or lowering one's elbow below the knee during a pull. The sport requires both cooperation of team members and physical strength.

Internationally, tug of war is governed by the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF), which organizes World Championships for nation teams biannually, for both indoor and outdoor contests, and a similar competition for club teams. It is particularly popular in Europe, Asia, and the United States, where it is often featured in festivals and national competitions.

Tug of war features as an important ritual in many societies, holding religious, cultural and historical significance. The sport remains a popular activity in both competitive and informal settings.

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. Prior to that, French and English was the commonly used name for the game in the English-speaking world.

The origins of tug of war are uncertain, but this sport was practised in Cambodia, ancient Egypt, Greece, India, and China. According to a Tang dynasty book, The Notes of Feng, tug of war, under the name 'hook pulling' (牽鉤), was used by the military commander of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (8th to 5th centuries BCE) to train warriors. During the Tang dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang promoted large-scale tug of war games, using ropes of up to 167 metres (548 ft) with shorter ropes attached, and more than 500 people on each end of the rope. Each side also had its own team of drummers to encourage the participants.

In ancient Greece, the sport was called helkystinda (Greek: ἑλκυστίνδα), ephelkystinda (ἐφελκυστίνδα) and dielkystinda (διελκυστίνδα), which derives from dielkō (διέλκω), meaning amongst others 'I pull through', all deriving from the verb helkō (ἕλκω), 'I draw, I pull'. Helkystinda and ephelkystinda seem to have been ordinary versions of tug of war, while dielkystinda had no rope, according to Julius Pollux. It is possible that the teams held hands when pulling, which would have increased difficulty, since handgrips are more difficult to sustain than a grip of a rope. Tug of war games in ancient Greece were among the most popular games used for strength and would help build strength needed for battle in full armor.

Archeological evidence shows that tug of war was also popular in India in the 12th century: