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Sport of athletics

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A beautiful track and field stadium in Helsinki, Finland, where athletes compete in running and other sports.

Athletics is a fun group of sports that includes running, jumping, and throwing. People of all ages love to watch and take part in these exciting activities. Athletics has many different events, but they all focus on speed, height, and distance.

Athletics has a very long history. It all started in Ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago. The first Olympic Games included a simple running race called the stadion. Today, athletics is a big part of the Summer Olympics and many other sports events around the world.

There are several main types of athletics. Track and field events happen on a running track and a grassy field. These include running races, hurdles, relay races, shot put, and high jump. Road running events take place on streets and roads, with marathons being very popular. Cross-country running happens on natural paths like grass and trails, making it more challenging and fun. Race walking is special because athletes must walk, not run, at a steady speed.

Athletics is enjoyed by people all over the world. Countries hold their own competitions to find the best athletes. The biggest event is the Summer Olympics, where athletes from many nations come together to compete. There are also special events for athletes with disabilities called the Paralympic Games, making sure everyone can join in the fun.

Athletes train very hard to get better. They practice running, jumping, and throwing many times to improve their skills. Whether you are running a race, jumping high, or throwing a discus, athletics is a wonderful way to stay active and have fun.

Images

Myriam Soumaré celebrates her victory in the women's 100-metre race at the French Athletics Championships in 2013.
An athlete competing in a javelin throw event during the Europacup in 2007.
Robert Garrett, the Olympic champion in the discus throw at the 1896 Athens Games.
Athletes competing in a cross country race at the Minnesota High School State Meet.
Tuscan race walkers competing in a 4-kilometer race walking event.
Athletes preparing for a mountain running race in the beautiful Norwegian landscape of Jotunheimen.
A famous ancient Roman statue of an athlete preparing to throw a discus.
Female athletes competing in a 100-meter race at the ISTAF 2006 event in Berlin.
Runners participating in the National Marathon in Washington D.C. in March 2008.
Young runners compete in a cross country race at the Roy Griak Invitational held at the University of Minnesota.
Athletes competing in the men's 10-kilometer race walk at the 1912 Summer Olympics.
Athletes competing in a long jump event during a sports competition in 1951.

Related articles

Running
Jumping
Throwing
Olympic Games
Track and field
Shot put

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Sport of athletics, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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