Types of Sports.

Human beings have been doing such activities like running, jumping and throwing, etc., from the ancient period. These activities were used to be the essential activities for their survival because in the absence of such activities, hunting an animal, to save oneself from the-attacks of wild animals or to fight with the enemies was very difficult. In fact, the history of athletics is as old as human beings themselves. The people of Egypt used to take part in running activities in 3500 B.C. but the Greeks were the people who laid the foundation stone of athletics. These people understood the importance of such activities exactly and included these activities in ancient Olympic Games. These Olympic games were organised first time in Olympics in 776 B.C. 200 yards and 5500 yards races were included in this Olympics. Discus throw. Javelin throw and long jump were also included in field competitions. Along with these activities, pentathlon activities were also a part of the games. The word 'Athletics' is also derived from Greek word 'Athlon'.

Modern Track and Field was started in England in 1800 A.D.4n 1860, the organisation of open competitions was Started. Only races used to be included in these competitions. In 1880, Oxford and Cambridge Universities established Amateur Ath¬letic Association. After that, first international competition was organised in New York in 1895.

In 1896, the prudent as well as appreciable endeavours of D. Coubertin Olympic games were organised in Athens and these activities were included in these games. In 1913, International Amateur Athletic Federation was formed. This federation keeps its control on competitions of athletics at world level. In 1928, Amsterdam Olympic games, females were allowed to partici¬pate first time in Olympic games. In 1950, the first synthetic track was built. First time, the foam mattresses were used in high jump and pole vault events in Mexico Olympics.

After that in 1979, the competition of world cup was started. The first world cup of athletics was held in Montreal. The first Asian Track and Field meet was organised in Philippines in 1 973. In this way, the development of activities of athletics is going on from ancient tfmes to present time. Now-a-days various competitions of athletics such as Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and European Championships, etc., are organised. The Amateur Athletic Federation of India was established in Bangalore in 1946. This fed¬eration organises two championships of ath¬letics each year.