Athletics is a sport. The sport is governed internationally by World Athletics (WA). It has featured at the Olympic Games since 1896 (30 editions). Wikidata lists 30 disciplines or variants under it.
Also classed underAthletics
PractitionersTrack and field official, Athletics competitor, Track and field coach
Olympic statusOn the programme · since 1896
Family tree
Disciplines and variants
30
Heavy athleticsBoxing, wrestling and weightliftingHigh jumpTrack and field eventPara athleticsSport of athletics adapted for participants with disabilitiesPole vaultTrack and field eventRacewalkingAthletic disciplineRunningActivity that involves the rapid terrestrial locomotion of feetThrowingAthletic discipline where athletes throw an objectTrack and fieldSports involving various running, jumping and throwing disciplinesTriple jumpTrack and field event
10 miles runDistance in athletics
110 metres hurdlesTrack and field hurdling event
24-hour runForm of ultramarathon
50 metresIndoor sprint athletics discipline over 50 metres
Adventure racingMulti-disciplinary team sport
Altitude trainingAthletes practicing at high altitude
DiaulosRunning race in ancient Greece, longer than stadion
DolichosAncient running event
FastpackingBackpacking meets trail running
Masters athleticsCategory of light athletics
Mixed 4 × 400 metres relayMixed-gender track and field event covering 1600 metres
Nigerian records in athletics
Schleuderballwurf
Softball throwTrack and field event
SprinterSportsperson taking part in running competitions up to a distance...
Standing high jumpTrack and field event
Standing long jumpTrack and field event
Standing triple jumpTrack and field event
Swedish relayAthletics event
Tower runningSport which involves running up tall man-made structures
Under-18 athleticsSport age category
Olympic Games
Olympic history
Editions where Athletics or one of its disciplines was on the programme. Filled boxes mark the sport itself, outlined ones its disciplines; the small number is the count of medal events where recorded.
Multi-sport events
At other multi-sport games
| Games | Editions | First | Latest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Paralympic Games | 7 | 1988 | 2021 | 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2012, 2016, 2021 |
| Summer Youth Olympic Games | 3 | 2014 | 2026 | 2014, 2018, 2026 |
| Summer World University Games | 33 | 1957 | 2025 | 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025 … |
| Central American and Caribbean Games | 25 | 1926 | 2026 | 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2023, 2026 … |
| Commonwealth Games | 23 | 1930 | 2026 | 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 … |
| Mediterranean Games | 20 | 1951 | 2026 | 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2022, 2026 … |
| Asian Games | 20 | 1951 | 2026 | 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2023, 2026 … |
| Pan American Games | 19 | 1951 | 2023 | 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 … |
| Bolivarian Games | 19 | 1938 | 2022 | 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2022 … |
| European Youth Olympic Festival | 17 | 1991 | 2023 | 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 … |
| Games of the Small States of Europe | 17 | 1985 | 2023 | 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023 … |
| African Games | 13 | 1965 | 2024 | 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2024 … |
| South Asian Games | 13 | 1984 | 2019 | 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2019 … |
| Arab Games | 13 | 1953 | 2015 | 1985, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2015 … |
| South American Games | 13 | 1978 | 2026 | 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 … |
| Jeux de la Francophonie | 9 | 1989 | 2023 | 1994, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2023 … |
| Pacific Games | 8 | 1963 | 2023 | 1963, 1966, 1975, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 |
| Island Games | 8 | 2009 | 2025 | 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025 |
| Military World Games | 7 | 1995 | 2019 | 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 |
| Goodwill Games | 5 | 1986 | 2001 | 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2001 |
| Islamic Solidarity Games | 4 | 2005 | 2022 | 2005, 2013, 2017, 2022 |
| European Games | 3 | 2015 | 2023 | 2015, 2019, 2023 |
World level
World championships
| Championship | Organiser | First held | Every | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Military Track & Field Championships | International Military Sports Council | 1946 | — | 3 |
| World Athletics Championships | World Athletics (WA) | 1983 | 2 yr | 24 |
| World Athletics U20 Championships | World Athletics (WA) | 1986 | 2 yr | 21 |
| IAAF World Road Relay Championships until 1998 | World Athletics (WA) | 1992 | 2 yr | 1 |
| IAU 24 Hour World Championship | International Association of Ultrarunners | 2003 | — | — |
| World Athletics Ultimate Championship | World Athletics (WA) | 2024 | 2 yr | — |
Editions — seasons or tournaments recorded as separate entries in Wikidata.Nothing found — try another filter.
Governance
Governing bodies
World AthleticsWA · founded 1912 · 31 membersAtleAtletismo Sudamericanofounded 1918
Confederation of African Athleticsfounded 1973 · 2 membersEMAEuropean Masters AthleticsEMA · founded 1978 · 1 membersNACANorth American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic AssociationNACAC · founded 1988 · 1 membersOceaOceania Athletics Associationfounded 1969 · 3 membersWMRAWorld Mountain Running AssociationWMRA · founded 1984What you need
Equipment and playing area
Playing area