TWIF 2024 – Mannheim Germany

Written by Dr Rob Scott

As I will be retired before the next Tug of War event, this was my last event with TWIF, and it was both emotional and exciting. Supported by two old friends, Elena Guisasola and Freya Moran, and joined by Lotta Koch, I knew we would have fun while working hard! The event had a very slow start, with two unusually quiet days. There were two possible reasons for this: the ground was very soft, which reduced the impact on the lower back, and we were positioned outside the main grounds, so it took time for the athletes to realize where we were. I have always emphasized the importance of positioning, and at some venues, I’ve been involved in selecting the location of our tent. However, in this case, it was simply the only available spot. It wasn’t ideal, but by Day 3, things started to pick up.

Luckily, we had a full team, and two busy days followed. A dramatic rainstorm provided our only respite during a quiet patch, while the athletes continued to compete. Events like these should be about learning from one another, and there was plenty of discussion and cooperation among us. The evenings gave us further opportunities for conversation, and the pavement cafés of Mannheim offered a welcome distraction. Freya has a remarkable knack for asking thought-provoking questions, making my final TWIF event both reflective and nostalgic. My sincere thanks to Freya, Lotte, and Elena for their hard work and willingness to get on with things without complaint.

We treated 144 people, with 40 returning for follow-up treatments. Unsurprisingly, most treatments were focused on the lumbar spine, but there were some interesting cases, including a knee that “popped” during competition. I suspected an ACL tear, but we struggled to convince the German-speaking paramedics not to take the athlete to the hospital, as she had to leave the next day! However, I later heard she was walking around normally the following day.

At the end of the event, TWIF honored me with a retirement gift and thanked me for all the work—and the “pain” I had put them through! I’ve made some great friends and long-lasting connections, and I hope to stay in touch with many of them in the coming years. In terms of succession planning, Elena Guisasola Iraegi has graciously agreed to take my place for the European events, and I’d like to thank her for her support and commitment to keeping the FICS flag flying. I’ve learned a great deal through Tug of War—about the sport, the people, teamwork, and how to be an effective Chef De Mission. I want to thank everyone at both FICS and TWIF who made this experience possible. I’ve done my best to pass on this knowledge, and I hope TWIF events continue to run smoothly.

Tug of War events are just four days long, making them relatively easy to attend, and I highly recommend volunteering for one! The next event will be in Chengdu for The World Games, and the 2026 event will be in South Africa, near the beach and wine country—so no excuses!