February 19, 2019RTWF

International Tug of War Day

One of the most ancient sports, born at the dawn of civilization when the sun and the moon fought over light and darkness, simply must have its own annual day: Tug of War Day.

The history of most cultures contains references to contests of pulling objects in opposite directions, which have come down to us in ancient drawings, texts and legends. The Vikings, for example, used animal hides tied together as a rope, and with the advent of large ships, pulling on rigging became commonplace among sailors.

Dropped from the Olympic Games program in 1920, tug of war has not lost its popularity, becoming an indispensable part of the sports and entertainment program of many festivals and fairs.

Although team compositions at official competitions are set by rules and regulations, in everyday life the number of people taking part in a contest can range from a few people to a large crowd: the world record is 1,574 participants.

The Russian Tug of War Federation congratulates everyone on International Tug of War Day!