Sport of athletics

Athletics is a group of sporting events that includes running, jumping and throwing. The main types of athletics are track and field, road running, cross-country running, and race walking.

In racing events, the winner is decided by who finishes first or has the best time. In jumps and throws, the winner is the athlete who goes the farthest or the highest. Athletics is usually an individual sport, but there are also relay races and team events.

Athletics has been part of the ancient Olympic Games since 776 BC. The modern rules were made in Western Europe and North America in the 19th and early 20th century. Today, athletics is a big part of the Summer Olympics and other major multi-sport events, such as the World Athletics Championships.

History

See also: History of physical training and fitness

See also: Timeline of changes in the sport of athletics

Athletic contests such as running, walking, jumping, and throwing are some of the oldest sports in the world. Early pictures from Ancient Egyptian tombs show people running and jumping. Ancient games like the Tailteann Games in Ireland included running and stone-throwing. The very first Olympics in 776 BC began with a simple running race called the stadion.

In more recent times, athletics grew from small local events to big international competitions. The modern Olympic Games included athletics from the very first games in 1896, and it has stayed a key part ever since. Today, athletics is watched worldwide, especially during the Olympics and big city marathons like Boston and New York. Over time, athletics has also grown to include events for athletes with disabilities, starting with the Paralympic Games in 1960.

Events

See also: List of athletics events

World Athletics, the group that controls the sport, says athletics has six types: track and field, road running, race walking, cross country running, mountain running, and trail running. Mountain running started in 2003 and trail running began in 2015.

All athletics events are individual sports except for relay races. At big competitions, countries combine their athletes' scores and the country with the best athletes wins.

Track and field events started in the late 1800s. They often include athletes from educational institutions, military organisations, and sports clubs. Events include running, hurdles, relay races, and games like shot put and high jump. The biggest events are the Olympic athletics competition and the World Championships in Athletics.

Road running has events like marathons and shorter races on paved roads. The marathon is an important event in the Olympics and World Championships. Cross country running happens on natural paths like grass and trails. Racewalking is special because athletes must walk at a certain speed and style.

Categories

The sport of athletics has many different categories to make sure everyone competes fairly. Athletes are grouped by their abilities, age, and gender. This helps everyone have a fair and fun competition.

Athletes compete in categories based on their age. Younger athletes might be in groups like under-18 or under-20. Older athletes often compete in groups organized by five-year age spans. There are also special events called para-athletics for athletes with disabilities. These events group competitors based on the type of disability they have, so everyone can compete fairly and celebrate their successes.

Venues

Professional athletics usually takes place in stadiums, on grass or woodland paths, or along roads. These places help make sure events are fair and safe for everyone. Athletes can also compete in simple open spaces like fields for basic running, jumping, and throwing events.

Stadiums often have tracks that are 400 meters long with many lanes for runners. Indoor tracks are shorter, usually 200 meters. Cross country courses can be in parks or woods, and may have hills or mud that make running more challenging. Road races follow city streets or paths, and often have spots where runners can get drinks.

Organizations

In 1912, the international governing body for athletics was formed, called the International Amateur Athletics Federation. Later, it changed its name. By 2019, it was known as World Athletics.

World Athletics includes 215 member nations and territories. These nations are grouped into six areas: Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, North and Central America and the Caribbean, and South America. Each area has its own association, such as the Asian Athletics Association and the European Athletics Association. National organizations in each country manage athletics events and competitions.

Competitions

Athletics competitions have three main types: international championships, national championships, and annual meetings and races. International championships, such as the Summer Olympics, bring athletes from many countries together to compete. The Olympics is the most famous athletics event. It includes running, jumping, and throwing. National championships decide the best athletes in each country for the year. Annual meetings and races are smaller events where athletes race against each other.

Many big international events, like the Olympics, include several types of athletics events. The Summer Olympics has included running, jumping, and throwing since 1896. Other big events, like the Commonwealth Games and the Paralympics, also feature athletics. The World Athletics Championships is another major global event for athletes. There are special competitions for athletes with physical disabilities, like the Paralympic Games.

Culture and media

Athletics has been celebrated in art for a very long time. Ancient Egyptian tombs from around 2250 BC show runners and high jumpers, and Greek athletes inspired famous statues like the Discobolus. Writers like Aristotle praised the beauty and strength of athletes.

Many films and books focus on running and track and field. Popular movies include Chariots of Fire, which is about two runners at the 1924 Olympics, and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. There are also documentaries like Spirit of the Marathon, and many magazines cover athletics news and history.