Nottingham Venues hosts England’s most successful Tug of War World Championships

Highfields Sports Complex stars as the competition host

Earlier this September, Nottingham Venues was honoured to host a charmingly unusual four-day sporting event: the 2025 Tug of War World Championships. Held at our state-of-the-art Highfields Sports Complex, the competition was, much to our excitement, upgraded from the European Championships to a global competition following a vote from the event’s governing body, meaning our Nottingham facilities briefly became home to Tug of War athletes and supporters from all over the world.

The tournament, open to men’s, women’s, and mixed teams, saw competitors battling it out on an international club level to bring home a gold, silver, or bronze medal in different weight categories. Speaking in the run up to the event, Tug of War spokesperson and Organising Committee member Alan Knott stated:

“This is a very exciting development. It’s not very often that you get the opportunity to host a World Championships … and the event will draw a bigger number of countries, teams, competitors and supporters. It will be a great atmosphere and we encourage everyone to come along and support the event [as] a great opportunity for people to see a top level tug of war competition, something which people in the area may not have seen before.”

This event marks the second occasion of Nottingham playing host to professional Tug of War, with the European Championships having taken place in 1973, and the first time England has been selected to steward the tournament since the year 2000. With an estimated 1,200 athletes having turned up to compete from more than 20 countries across the globe, Nottingham Venues was delighted to showcase our stellar eventing capabilities on a worldwide stage.

England’s most successful World Championships ever

The English teams that took part performed exceptionally well on home turf, making this the most successful World Tug of War Championships in England’s history. Across the four days of competition, England claimed an impressive 15 medals, of which 6 were gold, across both the club and international levels. Standout performances came in the Senior Men’s 640kg and Under 23 Mixed 560kg categories, where England secured gold in the international events. England also finished as the top nation at the Under 23 level, with a full set of medals to show for their efforts.

“This was a truly unforgettable championship for England,” says Alan Knott, speaking after the Championships had concluded.

“To perform like this on home soil, in front of such supportive crowds, is something special. The facilities at the University of Nottingham were outstanding, and the atmosphere throughout the weekend was electric. We’ve also seen fantastic media coverage, which is helping to put tug of war firmly on the map.”

A prestigious visitor from the International Olympic Committee

The international competitions also welcomed a special guest: Mrs Tania Chea from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who attended to observe the high level of competition and the sport’s global appeal. Her visit underscores the growing recognition of tug of war on the world stage, as the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) continues to advocate for the sport’s re-introduction to the Olympic Games, highlighting its rich history, inclusivity, and international reach.

Here at Nottingham Venues, we’re thrilled to have successfully hosted such an exciting event and look forward to any future opportunities for our facilities to be spotlighted on the global eventing stage. 

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