With the exception of relays or team events, Athletics is an individual sport comprising distinct human movements; running, jumping, and throwing. Each discipline is further broken down into various events where athletes compete for the fastest time or greatest distance within a competition.
At the local level, there is a long history of "Athletics Carnivals" organised in schools during the year. Globally, the Olympic Games are the most well-known showcase of athletics, although there are also World Championships held every two years which receive less media coverage.
Athletics comprises a range of events held in a stadium environment, and out of-stadia. Track and Field is another common name used to refer to the sport, but typically within the stadium context. The track is a 400 meter grass or rubber running oval that surrounds a Field for jumping and throwing events.
While Track and Field competitions are often held during the warmer months, Cross Country is another activity that students frequently participate in each during the cooler months. Other out-of-stadia events include road running, and race walking over far greater distances.
With roots going back to ancient Greece, Athletics remains ever popular today due to low barriers of entry, diverse opportunities and suitability for athletes of different body shapes and sizes, and simple rules of play that enable athletes to truly showcase both their physical and mental abilities.