athletics
Athletics is a broad field of competitive sports that centers on running, jumping, and throwing. It encompasses track and field events conducted in stadiums, as well as cross country, road racing, and race walking. At elite levels, athletes specialize in individual events or combine events that test multiple skills. In many countries, athletics serves as the umbrella term for track and field; in the United States, the term "track and field" is more commonly used.
Athletics has ancient origins in the Greek Olympic Games; modern athletics arose in the 19th century with
Track events include sprints (100m, 200m, 400m); middle-distance (800m, 1500m); long-distance (5000m, 10000m); hurdling (110m/100m hurdles,
Meets are held at local, national, and international levels. Major international competitions include the Olympic Games,
World Athletics coordinates competition rules, anti-doping efforts, and development programs; member national federations oversee local meets