1. Dimitrios Dafermos – Emmanouil Pansinis
Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna
school year 2020-2021
Σύρσιμο/Διελκυστίνδα – Dragging (in Greek)
Tug of war (in English)

2. Origin
• The origins of tug of war are
uncertain, but this sport was
practised in Cambodia, ancient
Egypt, Greece, India and
China.
• In ancient Greece, the sport
was called dielkystinda.
• 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.

3. Timeline
• There is no specific time and place in
history to define the game of Tug of
War. Evidence is found in countries
like Egypt, India, Myanmar, New
Guinea... The origin of the game in
India has strong archaeological roots
going back at least to the 12th
century AD.

4. Timeline
• 1500 and 1600 – Tug of war is
popularized during tournaments in
French châteaux gardens and later in
Great Britain.
• 1800 – Tug of war begins a new
tradition among seafaring men, who
were required to tug on lines to
adjust sails while ships were under
way and even in battle.

5. Tug of war as a sport
• There are tug of war clubs in many countries, and both men
and women participate.
• The sport was part of the Olympic Games from 1900 until
1920 but has not been included since. The sport is part of
the World Games. The Tug of War International Federation
(TWIF) organizes World Championships for national teams
biannually, for both indoor and outdoor contests, and a
similar competition for club teams.

6. Rules
• Two teams of eight, whose total mass must
not exceed a maximum weight as determined
for the class, align themselves at the end of a
rope approximately 11 centimeters in
circumference. The rope is marked with a
"center line" and two markings 4 meters to
either side of the center line.
• The teams start with the rope's center line
directly above a line marked on the ground,
and once the contest has commenced, they
attempt to pull the other team such that the
marking on the rope closest to their opponent
crosses the center line, or the opponents
commit a foul.

7. Rules
• Lowering one's elbow below the knee during
a pull, known as "locking", is a foul, as is
touching the ground for extended periods of
time. The rope must go under the arms;
actions such as pulling the rope over the
shoulders may be considered a foul. These
rules apply in highly organized competitions
such as the World Championships. However,
in small or informal entertainment
competitions, the rules are often arbitrarily
interpreted and followed.
• A contest may feature a moat in a neutral
zone, usually of mud or softened ground,
which eliminates players who cross the zone
or fall into it.

8. Video about Tug of war
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiSma8GFz
Wo

9. Sources
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tug_of_war