History of athletics

History of athletics:

The word athlete is derived from the Greek word Athlon which means a contest.The word athlete means a person who participates in some sort of contest involving physical activity. The ancient Greek people used to call athletics as track and field events. They developed athletics as a competitive sports and led foundation to the oldest sports in the world. It become popular in ancient Greece mainly because of Olympic games.

The original and only event at the first Olympics in 776 BC was a stadium-length foot race or state run on a track. There were several other games held in europe in the classical era:

panhellenic games:

The pythian games (founded 527bc)held in delphi every four years

The nemean games (founded 516bc) held in argolid every two years.

The isthmian games(founded 523bc) held on the isthmus of Corinth every two years.

The Roman games arising from Etruscan rather than purely Greek roots, the Roman games de-emphasized footraces and throwing. Instead, the Greek sports of chariot racing and wrestling, instead, the Greek sports of chariot racing and wrestling, as well as the Etruscan sport of gladiatorial combat, took centre stage.

Other peoples, such as the cents, Teuton and Goth who succeeded the Romans, enjoyed athletic contests. However, these were often related to combat training. In the middle ages the sons of noblemen would be trained in running, leaping and wrestling, in addition to riding, jousting and arms-training. Contests between rivals and friends may have been common on both official and unofficial grounds.