As Tug-of-War vanished from the Olympic programme, the opportunity for international competition disappeared.  However with National Associations formed the desire for International competitions developed.  An organisation called "Tug of War International Federation"(TWIF) was formed with the view to organising World and European Championships.
Since the first European Championships held in London in 1955 European Championships were staged regularly until 1974 when the affiliation of countries from outside resulted in the first World Championships in 1975.

World Championships have been held every second year with European Championships being held in the intervening years.  The formation of TWIF has been extremely beneficial to the development of international Tug of War.