Final answer:
In the example given, 18 people participated in a tug-of-war, with two teams of nine members each. Tug-of-war is a team event while bullriding steer riding is a solo rodeo event that does not require rope pulling by multiple people and often serves as a rite of passage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of people who can pull the rope in a game of tug-of-war, which can be related to building steer riding, is typically determined by the rules of the competition. In the provided examples, it is stated that two teams of nine members each engage in a tug-of-war. Hence, in this scenario, 18 people are pulling on the rope. It's important to note that while tug-of-war is a team event commonly included in recreational activities and competitions, bull riding steer riding is a rodeo event that involves an individual rider and does not include rope pulling by multiple people.
Bullriding and steer riding are often associated with rites of passage in various cultures, symbolizing the transition from childhood to adulthood. Despite these sports being life-threatening, they are a popular spectacle, forming a civic event that stands as a public testament to one's bravery and skill. However, the skills and number of participants involved in bullriding steer riding are different from those in tug-of-war.