Track And Field: Oldest Sports In Ancient Greece

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Recommended: History and development of track and field

Fall 2014
Robert Doane
15 September 2014
Origin of Sport
Conditioning Activities
Origins of Track Track and Field is one of the oldest sports out there still to this day. Track and Field has been around since 776 BC in Ancient Olympia Greece. It started out in the Olympics with just one race, which consisted of the stadion footrace. Then it evolved years later to the Ancient Olympic pentathlon, consisted of three sections. Track and field is one of the most evolved sports in history from where it started, and is one of the most successful sports to this day.
The year 776 BC, the Ancient Greece decided to make an event that would catch the people’s eye, they created the Olympics. The Olympics consisted of one event called the Stadion Footrace. …show more content…

The Olympics introduced the pentathlon. The Pentathlon consisted of three sections of five sports, the first section consisted of the Triagmos: the long jump, javelin throw, and discus throw. The second section was the Stadion Footrace. And the third section was wrestling, which has been around since 7000 BC. The discus throw was one of the harder events because of the heavier disk that they made, which was an offering to Zeus. The Javelin throw and the discus throw had five attempts to them, but the officials would only take the furthest throw. Wrestling was held in a sand pit, outside the Temple of Zeus, while the other events were all held in the stadium. All of the sports were scored together, so the Athletes had to compete in each event to be declared victor of the Olympic Games for the next four years. This is the foundation of the modern Track and Field today and continue to be competed …show more content…

Starting in the year of 778 BC to evolving to more events in 708 BC then moving across the world starting in 200 BC. The reason it is one of the most evolved sports to this day is because of the many events it has added over the decades. Started as one event and now has over 30 events to this date. Back in BC times the athletes would have to compete naked because it was traditional. To this day the athletes compete in singlet’s. There are industries formed around this sport now, giving the industries millions in profits and millions to the sport. Back then they didn’t have apparel for Track and Field nor did they announce it to the world. Track has evolved tremendously over the decades to make it one of the most successful sports

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