Lots of tension in the rope and things go bad if it breaks ... An article titled "Last Games appearance for tug of war" was published on the official website of the Olympic Games.

They don’t wear gloves in the sport of tug-of-war because of course they don’t. Because, as the athletes of this ancient test of strength will tell you, they’re all a little crazy.

A woman tragically died in a freak accident during a tug-of-war game when the mile-long rope pinged back and dragged her into a concrete barrier. Masita B was participating in a world record ...

Inside the Oval Office, the two leaders shook hands twice more — at one point grabbing each other’s mitts in the “thumb war” formation familiar to millions of schoolchildren around the world.

Buettner said he “got volun-told” to procure the $1,000 black polyester combo rope that will be used in the tug-of-war. It’s 300 feet long, 1.5 inches thick and weighs 166 pounds.