Which sport is athletics?
Understanding Athletics
Athletics is a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. It is one of the oldest forms of organized sport and is often referred to as 'track and field' in many countries.
Main Disciplines in Athletics
- Track Events: These include sprints (e.g., 100m, 200m), middle-distance (e.g., 800m, 1500m), long-distance races (e.g., 5000m, 10,000m), hurdles, and relay races.
- Field Events: These consist of jumping events (long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault) and throwing events (shot put, discus, javelin, hammer throw).
- Combined Events: Athletes compete in a combination of different events, such as the decathlon (for men) and heptathlon (for women).
- Racewalking: This is a long-distance event where athletes must walk without running, maintaining contact with the ground at all times.
Athletics is governed internationally by World Athletics (formerly known as the IAAF) and features prominently in the Olympic Games and other major sporting competitions.