Archive 2007–2013Dear friends, athletes and sports fans!

Address by the RTWF President

Tug of war has ancient roots and was part of the modern Olympic Games until 1920. Today tug of war is actively developing around the world, is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and has 50 national federations. Tug of war is on the program of the World Games, and the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF), a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), is seeking the return of tug of war to the Olympic program. Internationally, tug of war is organized on a club basis, and all European and World Championships begin with club competitions, which makes it possible for several teams from one country to compete.

As a form of competition and entertainment, tug of war is very popular, from schools and local sports festivals to the Spartakiads of large corporations. However, as a sport it existed neither in the USSR nor in Russia, and accordingly there were no official rules or training methods.

The RTWF was created to actively establish and develop tug of war as a sport in Russia.

The first serious step on this path was its recognition by the Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sport in March 2007. To gain more than 100 years of international experience and to train coaches and referees, we take an active part in all TWIF events. On May 7, 2005, at the TWIF Annual General Meeting in South Africa (Cape Town), the Russian Tug of War Federation was unanimously admitted as a member of TWIF. We have the necessary sports equipment that meets international rules, as well as special training machines. With the support of TWIF, we intend to hold training seminars and camps for referees, coaches and athletes in 2007–2008. In the near future we will set the date and venue of the first official open Russian Championship with a good prize fund, where the selection of club teams for TWIF championships will begin.

The RTWF plans to organize and hold demonstration performances by experienced teams, master classes, festivals, strength shows and other events that help organize sporting leisure for citizens of the Russian Federation. We will actively develop and implement specialized school and student programs aimed at organizing sporting leisure for children, teenagers and so-called troubled youth. The RTWF has begun developing a phased targeted program for the development of tug of war for 2007–2012.

I would like to present to you the main advantages of tug of war as a sport:
- it is a team competition (which is especially important for its popularization in Russia) and therefore very spectacular
- it has no upper age limits
- it allows you to quickly start mastering the technique even with modest general physical fitness
- it develops a high level of overall strength, strength endurance and "explosive strength", as well as good coordination, a sense of rhythm and timing, and psychological resilience.

If you would like to take up tug of war, we advise you to read the general information on this site, find like-minded people in your village, town or region and set up a club, or use the resources of an existing physical culture and sports club, and contact us at the RTWF.

Once you have completed the accreditation procedure with the RTWF, we will include you in the plans for our sports and educational events and provide you with basic training materials and, if necessary, sports equipment.


President
of the Russian Tug of War Federation
A.A. Kuznetsov

Corporate events

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