This sport represents a concept so classic that, in some languages at least, its name is used in everyday language. Tug of war's long history as the purest contest of human strength provides glorious moments galore. On the program of the Olympics from Paris 1900 through Antwerp 1920, in The World Games, and in world championships held outdoors and indoors ...

One of these moments, during The World Games 1989 Karlsruhe, was reflected upon by German sports philosopher Prof. Dr. Hans Lenk:

'With heavy boots, bulging biceps, and with looks of determination on everyone's face, both teams lined up. Particularly stout the Swiss, somewhat lankier the Brits. All of a sudden there was a delay! The Swiss were one athlete short. The poor lad had injured himself during training. The two teams and the referee conferred for a moment. Voluntarily, the Brits dropped one athlete from their team ... The spirit of fairness continued alive where not only the victor's purse and the must-win-at-all-cost attitudes count ... Below the excessively marketed top-level sport with all its temptations to unfairness – doping, etc. – the traditional sporting spirit still exists.'

The World Games 2009 indoor tug of war event (Women 520 kg)  has Chinese Taipei defend the gold medal and title in Kaohsiung. It will get very noisy at the NSYSU Gymnasium. The partisan crowd will cheer the eight Taiwanese women on, their coach will be as vocal, trying to shout louder than the counterpart on the opposing team, but the pulls will be amicable and fair. The tug of war tradition continues.   

 Tug of war at The World Games 2005