Bamiyan Tug-of-War Challenge
By LT Joel Lim
Lieutenant Joel Lim is currently serving in Afghanistan as part of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZ PRT). Evidence of their acceptance by the locals came in an unexpected form—a recent invitation to take part in the annual Tug-of-War challenge between teams from the various villages around the Bamiyan province.
The NZ PRT entered a team consisting of 15 volunteers, to compete against the strongest and toughest from Bamiyan. The spectators cheered on as both teams entered the arena where the battle for bragging rights would ensue. There was no shortage of keen participants from Bamiyan, as some of them attempted to join the opposition team—we found out later that several succeeded in tagging onto the end of the rope during the contest! They were all extremely excited about the opportunity to compete against the PRT. It took several minutes for the opposition team to organise themselves, and soon it was time for the NZ PRT team to put it all on the line! As the whistle blew, the crowds went wild, screaming and shouting, chanting words of encouragement for their supported team. A steady build up of dust drifted through the crowds as both teams gave everything they had—the rope straining under the enormous tension.
Both teams started off evenly, neither one having a real advantage on the loose dusty gravel, but soon the home team gained their footing and momentum as the crowds cheered them on. It was all over in a couple of minutes, with the home team taking it away this year! There were big smiles all around as we shook hands and congratulated each other for a ‘battle’ well fought. As our NZ PRT team walked out of the arena, the crowds showed their support and appreciation for our participation.
The winning team then broke into song and dance—everyone was happy with the outcome.
Although the NZ PRT came off second best in this competition, it was a success from a relationship perspective as it helped us to develop closer ties with the community, and forge new relationships. The NZ PRT is seen to be part of the community, which is why it is important for us to continue participating in such events.