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 organized clubs and national associations. The sport is governed internationally by World Athletics (formerly IAAF). The Olympics have been a principal stage since 1896, with World Championships and continental championships expanding the calendar.

Track events include sprints (100m, 200m, 400m); middle-distance (800m, 1500m); long-distance (5000m, 10000m); hurdling (110m/100m hurdles, 400m hurdles) and steeplechase (3000m). Field events include jumps (long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault) and throws (shot put, discus, hammer, javelin). Combined events include the decathlon for men and heptathlon for women. Race walking is contested at distances such as 20 km and 50 km.

Meets are held at local, national, and international levels. Major international competitions include the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, and continental championships; indoor championships for some events; national championships determine team selection. World Athletics maintains world records and ranking systems.

World Athletics coordinates competition rules, anti-doping efforts, and development programs; member national federations oversee local meets and athlete progression. The sport emphasizes safety, fair play, and inclusion across genders and ages, with ongoing efforts to broaden access and global participation.