Olympics of the Mind
 

Design Statement

Given an equal amount of material and time, each participant is to make a link of chain. The links will then be attached and a tug of war will take place. As an individual's link is broken, he/she is eliminated from the contest.
 

Design Parameters

A link will be constructed from the materials issued by the competition organizer. Each link will have an opening which two 12-inch pieces of clothesline will pass through. The clothesline will be tied to the clothesline of another's link. The clothesline may not be used to strengthen a link.
 

Material Limitations

Each participant will be given one 8 - 1/2 x 11-inch piece of 20 lb bond paper, one 1 x 2-inch pressure sensitive label or a 1 x 2-inch strip of masking tape, a 6-inch piece of string and a rubberband from which a link is to be constructed.

 
Testing Conditions

Attach the links with the pieces of clothesline with a square knot as shown in the illustration below. Attach a long rope to each of the end links. (If there are more than ten participants, it is suggested that two chains be formed and ten or less finalists be determined.) Complete a tug of war with the elimination of each participant whose link has failed. The remaining link will be declared the winner.