Athletics

Sport of athletics

Athletics are sports that involve running, jumping, throwing & walking in competitions. A typical sports competition is the track and field race, road racing, cross country racing, and walking. The outcome of racing is determined through finishing position (or time) when measured, while jumping is won by the individual who has achieved the greatest or farthest measurement. The simple competition format with no equipment makes sports extremely common worldwide.

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Events

There are many different types of athletics events, which can be broadly categorized into running, jumping, and throwing events. The most common running events are sprints (races up to 400 meters), middle-distance (races between 800 and 3000 meters), long-distance (races beyond 3000 meters), and relay races.

The jumping events include the high jump, pole vault, long jump, and triple jump, while the throwing events are the shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, and javelin throw. Combined events involving multiple disciplines from across the track & field spectrum are also held, such as the decathlon for men and the heptathlon for women.

Road running events, which take place on paved surfaces, include the marathon, half marathon, 10-kilometer race, and 5-kilometer race. Cross-country running events, which take place on natural surfaces such as grass or dirt, include the 3-kilometer race, 6-kilometer race, and 10-kilometer race.

Athletics competitions are held at all levels, from school through to the Olympic Games. The sport is governed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), with each national federation having its own rules and regulations.

Competitions

There are many different types of athletics competitions, which can be broadly categorized into running, jumping, and throwing events. The most common running events are sprints (races up to 400 meters), middle-distance (races between 800 and 3000 meters), long-distance (races beyond 3000 meters), and relay races.

The jumping events include the high jump, pole vault, long jump, and triple jump, while the throwing events are the shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, and javelin throw. Combined events involving multiple disciplines from across the track & field spectrum are also held, such as the decathlon for men and the heptathlon for women.

Road running events, which take place on paved surfaces, include the marathon, half marathon, 10-kilometer race, and 5-kilometer race. Cross-country running events, which take place on natural surfaces such as grass or dirt, include the 3-kilometer race, 6-kilometer race, and 10-kilometer race.

Athletics competitions are held at all levels, from school through to the Olympic Games. The sport is governed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), with each national federation having its own rules and regulations.

Running

Sprinting is a type of running that generally lasts no more than 400 meters. It is a highly explosive form of running in which athletes reach top speeds before slowing down throughout the race. The 100-meter dash is the most common sprinting event, while the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash are also popular.

Middle-distance running events are races that fall between 800 meters and 3000 meters in length. The most common middle-distance events are the 800-meter run, 1500-meter run, and mile run. These races require a mix of speed and endurance, with athletes needing to maintain a fast pace throughout the race.

Long-distance running events are any races that exceed 3000 meters in length. The most common long-distance running event is the marathon, which is 42 kilometers in length. Other popular long-distance running events include the half marathon (21 kilometers), 10-kilometer race, and 5-kilometer race. These races require a high level of endurance, with athletes needing to pace themselves to complete the race.

Relay races are running events in which teams of athletes compete against each other to see who can complete the course the fastest. The most common relay race is the 4 x 100-meter relay, in which four athletes run 100 meters each before passing the baton to the next runner. Other popular relay events include the 4 x 400-meter relay and the medley relay.

Jumping

The jumping events involve an athlete taking off from a stationary position and landing on a landing pad or mat. The most common jumping events are the high jump, pole vault, long jump, and triple jump.

A high jump is an event in which athletes attempt to jump over a bar that is set at a certain height. The athlete must take off from a standing position and use their momentum to clear the bar. The height of the bar is increased incrementally until only a few athletes can clear it.

A pole vault is an event in which athletes attempt to vault over a bar that is set at a certain height. The athlete uses a pole to propel themselves over the bar. The length of the pole is determined by the athlete’s height and weight. The height of the bar is increased incrementally until only a few athletes can clear it.

A long jump is an event in which athletes attempt to jump as far as possible from a take-off point. The athlete must take off from a standing position and use their momentum to carry them forward. The athlete then lands on a padded mat, with the distance they have jumped being measured from the take-off point to the nearest point of contact on the mat.

A triple jump is an event in which athletes attempt to jump as far as possible from a take-off point. The athlete must take off from a running start and use their momentum to carry them forward. The athlete then lands on a padded mat, with the distance they have jumped being measured from the take-off point to the nearest point of contact on the mat.

The throwing events involve an athlete throwing a projectile as far as possible. The most common throwing events are the shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, and hammer throw.

A shot put is an event in which athletes attempt to throw a heavy metal ball (the shot) as far as possible. The athlete takes a standing position and throws the shot from within a marked circle. The distance the shot is thrown is measured from the front edge of the circle to where the shot first hits the ground.

A discus throw is an event in which athletes attempt to throw a heavy disc as far as possible. The athlete takes a standing position and throws the disc from within a marked circle. The distance the disc is thrown is measured from the front edge of the circle to where the disc first hits the ground.

A javelin throw is an event in which athletes attempt to throw a spear-like projectile (the javelin) as far as possible. The athlete takes a running start and then hurls the javelin from within a marked throwing area. The distance the javelin is thrown is measured from the front edge of the throwing area to where the javelin first hits the ground.

A hammer throw is an event in which athletes attempt to throw a heavy metal ball (the hammer) attached to a wire as far as possible. The athlete spins around several times before releasing the hammer, with the distance being measured from the point where the hammer is released to where it first hits the ground.

Organizations

Several organizations govern athletics at the international level. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the primary governing body for track and field, while the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) governs the sport of racewalking. There are also several national governing bodies, such as USA Track & Field (USATF) in the United States and Athletics Canada. These organizations are responsible for setting rules and regulations for their respective sports, organizing competitions, and promoting the development of athletes.

The IAAF is the primary governing body for athletics worldwide. It was founded in 1912 as the International Amateur Athletic Federation, before changing its name to the International Association of Athletics Federations in 2001. The IAAF is responsible for organizing the sport of athletics at the Olympic Games, as well as several other international competitions such as the World Championships in Athletics.

The ISO is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies. It was founded in 1947 and currently has a membership of 162 countries. The ISO is responsible for setting international standards for a variety of products and services, including the sport of racewalking.

Racewalking is an athletic event in which competitors walk over a specified distance within a set period. The sport is governed by the International Organization for Standardization, with races being held over distances of 5,000 meters or 10,000 meters. Racewalkers must maintain contact with the ground at all times and cannot have any visible movement of their arms.

The USATF is the national governing body for athletics in the United States. It was founded in 1979 as the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), before changing its name to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in 2007. The USATF is responsible for organizing the sport of athletics at the Olympic Games, as well as several other international competitions such as the World Championships in Athletics.

Athletics Canada is the national governing body for athletics in Canada. It was founded in 1884 as the Canadian Amateur Athletic Union, before changing its name to Athletics Canada in 1993. Athletics Canada is responsible for organizing the sport of athletics at the Olympic Games, as well as several other international competitions such as the World Championships in Athletics.

Competitions

The Olympic Games are the largest and most important athletics competition in the world. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece in 1896, with athletics being one of the original nine sports on the program. Since then, athletics has been included in every edition of the Summer Olympics, with a total of 47 events being contested at each game. The most recent Olympics were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.

The World Championships in Athletics is an international athletics competition that is held every two years. The first edition was held in Helsinki, Finland in 1983, with a total of 20 events being contested. The most recent edition was held in Doha, Qatar in 2019, with a total of 24 events being contested.

The IAAF World Indoor Championships is an international athletics competition that is held every two years. The first edition was held in Paris, France in 1985, with a total of 20 events being contested. The most recent edition was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom in 2018, with a total of 22 events being contested.

The IAAF World Relays is an international athletics competition that is held every two years. The first edition was held in Nassau, Bahamas in 2014, with a total of 12 events being contested. The most recent edition was held in Yokohama, Japan in 2019, with a total of 14 events being contested.

The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships is an international athletics competition that is held every two years. The first edition was held in New Delhi, India in 1992, with a total of 12 events being contested. The most recent edition was held in Valencia, Spain in 2019, with a total of 14 events being contested.

The IAAF World Cross Country Championships is an international athletics competition that is held every year. The first edition was held in Waregem, Belgium in 1973, with a total of 10 events being contested. The most recent edition was held in Aarhus, Denmark in 2019, with a total of 12 events being contested.

The IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships is an international athletics competition that is held every two years. The first edition was held in Taicang, China in 2014, with a total of 12 events being contested. The most recent edition was held in Rome, Italy in 2019, with a total of 14 events being contested.

The IAAF World U20 Championships is an international athletics competition that is held every two years. The first edition was held in Bydgoszcz, Poland in 1999, with a total of 20 events being contested. The most recent edition was held in Tampere, Finland in 2018, with a total of 24 events being contested.

The IAAF World U18 Championships is an international athletics competition that is held every two years. The first edition was held in Bydgoszcz, Poland in 1999, with a total of 20 events being contested. The most recent edition was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2017, with a total of 24 events being contested.

The IAAF Continental Cup is an international athletics competition that is held every four years. The first edition was held in Rabat, Morocco in 2010, with a total of 12 events being contested. The most recent edition was held in Ostrava, Czech Republic in 2018, with a total of 14 events being contested.

Categories

There are several different categories of athletics competitions:

- Track events: These include sprints, middle-distance running, long-distance running, and hurdling.

- Field events: These include jumping and throwing.

- Road events: These include a marathon, half marathon, 10 km road race, and 20 km race walk.

- Cross country: This includes races over various terrain including grass, dirt, and snow.

Track Events

Sprinting is a type of track event that involves running over a short distance. The distances run in sprints vary depending on the category, with the 100 meters being the shortest distance and the 400 meters being the longest. Sprinters typically have a strong lower body and are able to generate a lot of power in their strides.

Middle-distance running is a type of track event that involves running over a longer distance than sprinting, but shorter than long-distance running. The distances run in middle-distance events vary depending on the category, with 800 meters being the shortest distance and 1500 meters being the longest. Middle-distance runners typically have good endurance and can maintain a fast pace for extended periods.

Long-distance running is a type of track event that involves running over long distances. The distances run in long-distance events vary depending on the category, with the 5000 meters being the shortest distance and the marathon being the longest. Long-distance runners need good endurance to maintain a steady pace over long distances.

Hurdling is a type of track event that involves running over a distance while clearing obstacles called hurdles. The heights of the hurdles vary depending on the category, with the lower heights being used in sprints and the higher heights being used in middle-distance events. Hurdlers need to be able to generate a lot of power in their strides to clear the hurdles.

Field Events

Jumping is a type of field event that involves jumping for height or distance. The types of jumps performed vary depending on the category, with the most common being the high jump and the long jump. Jumpers need to be able to generate a lot of power in their take-off to propel themselves into the air.

Throwing is a type of field event that involves throwing for distance. The types of throws performed vary depending on the category, with the most common being the shot put and the javelin throw. Throwers need to have the good upper body strength to generate enough power to throw the implement far.

Road Events

Marathon is a type of road event that involves running over a long distance. The marathon is the longest distance that can be run in an athletics competition, with the standard distance being 42 kilometers (26 miles). Marathon runners need good endurance to maintain a steady pace over long distances.

The half marathon is a type of road event that involves running over a half marathon distance, which is 21 kilometers (13 miles). Half marathon runners typically have good endurance and can maintain a fast pace for extended periods.

The 10-kilometer road race is a type of road event that involves running over 10 kilometers (6 miles). 10-kilometer runners typically have good endurance and can maintain a fast pace for extended periods.

The 20-kilometer race walk is a type of road event that involves walking over 20 kilometers (12 miles). Race walkers need to have good stamina to maintain a steady pace over long distances.