WORLD ATHLETICS DAY

WORLD ATHLETICS DAY

On May 7, World Athletics Day encourage young people to participate in athletics to help raise awareness on the benefits of fitness. Many people mistakenly believe the term athletics refers to any event performed by athletes. However, athletics is the name given to a specific group of track and field events.

#WORLDATHLETICSDAY

Track and field events have been around for centuries. In fact, the first athletic competition took place in 776 B.C. in Ancient Greece. Many historians date the first track and field events occurring during the 9th and 10th centuries. A few centuries later, these athletics events would lay the foundation for the first Olympic competitions.

The first Olympics was a series of track and field events allowing men the opportunity to show off their athleticism. However, it took many years for people around the world to embrace track and field events. Unlike Ancient Greece, athletics did not reach full popularity around the world until mid-1800s. Popularity increased around 1896, which was during the start of modern  day Olympics. Unfortunately, athletics were strictly a male competition. By the 1900s, women were finally allowed to participate in a the Olympics.

Areas of Athletics Competition

Today, athletics include a variety of competitive events in track and field including:

  • 100 and 400-meter sprints;

  • Relay race;

  • Long Jump and High Jump;

  • Pole vault;

  • Shot put;

  • Discus and javelin throws;

  • Pentathlon (includes five athletic events); and

  • Heptathlon (includes seven athletic events).

Benefits of Participating in Athletics

There are many reasons for people to get involved in athletic events. One important reason is athletics is a great way to stay healthy. Track and field events are also known to burn body fat and speed up metabolism, making it easier to maintain a healthy body weight.

Studies have shown getting involved in athletics at a young age creates other healthy habits early in life. Young people who engage in track and field are more self-disciplined. Many are more equipped to cope with anxiety. In addition, young people who participate benefit by learning to get along with others by competing in a healthy manner. Other benefits include:

  • Improving sleeping habits.

  • Finding a healthy balance mentally and physically.

  • Improving mood.

  • Improving sleeping habits.

5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE WORK ATHLETICS DAY

  1. Learn about the history of track and field events.

  2. Encourage your children and other youth to participate in school or community athletic programs.

  3. Read about famous track and field athletes, such as Usain Bolt, Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Wilma Rudolph.

  4. Watch a documentary about the Olympics, like “I Am Bolt,” “The Fall,” or “One Day in September.”

  5. Spread awareness on social media using #WorldAthleticsDay.

WORLD ATHLETICS DAY HISTORY

World Athletics Day began in 1996 by President Primo Nebiolo of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). His vision was to bring awareness on the importance of athletics to young people across the world. He, along with an international governing body for athletics, sponsor the World Athletics Day event every year. In the beginning, the association would select two boys and two girls from around the continent IAAF to attend world-renowned athletic competitions. Since then, the IAAF will chooses 12 kids from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, North and Central America to attend the Olympics games.