HISTORY OF TUG OF WAR

There is no specific time and place to pinpoint the origin of Tug of War. The contest of pulling on the rope originates fron ancient ceremonies and cults, which are found all the over the world eg, Egypt,Burma,India,Borneo,Japan,Hawaii, and South America.Ancient Tug of War was performed in various styles.In Afghanistan, teams used a wooden stake instead of a rope to pull. In Korea, children clasped their arms around each other`s waists to form a living Tug of War chain.

Tug of War as a sport contest.

Later Tug of War became a pure contest of physical strength. in Greece, the cradle of the ancient Olymoic Games, athletes practised Tug of War sport either as a competitive sport or as exercise in the physical training for other sports. In western Europe evidence of Tug of War was found in the year 1000 AC, in the stories of the herioc champions of Scandinavia and Germany, who participated in the so called " kraftige spiele " ( power games ). The Tug of War sport featured iin competitions at the courts of the Chinese Emperors, as well as in Mongolia and Turkey. In the 15th century Tug of War was a popular contest at the tournaments in the French chateaux and in competitions in Great Britain.

Olympic period

The Tug of War sport was featured in the Olympic Games from 1900 to 1920

Scottish Tug of War Associations History

The Scottish Tug of War Association was founded in 1980 to promote our sport within Scotland. We were affiliated to the International Tug of War Federation (T.W.I.F ) IN 1981.

We compete at both Outdoor and Indoor Tug of War and we have achieved our best results in the United Kingdom Indoor Champonships and World Indoor Champonships. We were crowned World 640kg Champions in 1999 and we have achieved gold medals at all the World Championships since that date.

In 2004 we held the World Indoor Champonships in Glasgow and we were crowned World Champions 640kg & 680kg. At the 2010 World Indoor Championships in Italy we achieved the Gold medals in the 600kg and 680kg classes.

We are the current United Kingdom Champions in the 600kg and 680kg.

The results of the 2010 World Indoor Champonships

Men 560kg - Gold - N Ireland - Silver - England - Bronze - Scotland

Men 600kg - Gold - Scotland - Silver - England - Bronze - Northern Ireland

Men 640kg - Gold - England - Silver - Scotland - Bronze - Republic of Ireland

Men 680kg - Gold - Scotland - Silver - Netherlands - Bronze - Republic of Ireland

Ladies 540kg -Gold - Chinese Taipei - Silver - China - Bronze - Japan

Ladies 500kg - Gold - China - Silver - Chinese Taipei - Bronze - Japan