There were several other "Games" held throughout Europe in later
eras:
- The Nemean Games (founded 516 BC) held in Argolid every
two years
- The Isthmian (founded 523 BC) held on the Isthmus of
Corinth every two years (one year being that which followed the
Olympics)
- The Pythian Games (founded 527 BC) held in Delphi every
four years
- The Roman Games — a direct imitation of the Greek
Olympics, however was a much more popularized spectacle, with most
competitors likely to have been professional athletes (the Greek
Olympics was more a common-man's fare). Many themes of the Roman
Circus (chariot races, gladiatorial combats and wild animal
displays) were incorporated into the Roman Games asides from
athletic sports.
Other peoples enjoyed athletic contests, such as the Celts,
Teutons and Goths who succeeded the Romans. However these were often
related to training to war, and were not very well organized. 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. Many athletic sports
have found favour in Europe throughout the ages. However, at least
in Britain, they fell out favour between the 13th and 16th centuries
due to government restrictions on sports aiming to reduce the
practice of archery. After this ban was lifted in the 17th century
sports began to flourish once more, but it was not until the 19th
century that organization began to appear. This included the
incorporation of regular sports and exercise into school regimes.
The Royal Military College, Sandhurst has claimed to be the first to
adopt this in 1812 and 1825 but without any supporting evidence. The
earliest recorded meeting was organised at Shrewsbury, Shropshire in
1840 by the Royal Shrewsbury School Hunt. There are details of the
meeting in a series of letters written 60 years later by CT Robinson
who was a pupil there from 1838 to 1841.
Modern athletic events are usually organized around a 400 meter
running track, on which most of the running events take place. Field
events (jumping and throwing) often take place in the field in the
centre of the running track.
Many athletic events have an ancient origin and were already
conducted in competitive form by the ancient Greeks. Athletics was
included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been part
of the program ever since, providing the backbone of the Olympics.
Track Athletics:
Field Athletics:
