You see before you a Gold Medal for the Tug-of-War event from the 1920 Olympic Games. The Tug-of-War was an Olympic sport for only six games. The City of London Police team won the competition in 1908, provided half of the joint City and Metropolitan team that won silver in 1912, and again won gold in 1920. Three City Policemen were in all three Olympics, thereby winning two gold and one silver medal each. In the 1908 games, Great Britain fielded three Tug-of-War teams. Great Britain I was the City of London Police team; Great Britain II was the Liverpool City Police; and Great Britain III was the Metropolitan Police. Other teams in the competition were the United States, Sweden, Greece and Germany. There was controversy, with the US team pulling out of the event in protest against they type of boots that the Liverpool team were wearing. As the games progressed, they were followed by Sweden, Greece and Germany, leaving the three Great Britain teams with the medals. In 1920, Great Britain only fielded one team who were the City of London Police. They won all three of their matches, taking the gold medal to became the only country to win two Olympic Golds in the tug of war. After the 1920 Olympic Games, the Tug-of-War event was dropped as an Olympic event, leaving the City of London Police the reigning Olympic champions, something they are still proud of a century later.
Press A to find out more about the 1920s Olympic Tug-of-War 28. Press B to find out more about City of London Police Tug of War team