Athletics is the king of all the sporting events in the Olympic games. The term athletics comprises all stadium events, including running, throwing and jumping, not forgetting walking, which is an event in its own right.The very first athletic events date back to the Ancient games in 776 BC. At this time, the sporting events being practised by the athletes were sprinting, long-distance, high jump and two throwing events: the discus and the javelin.Nevertheless, it is with the advent of the modern Olympic games that athletics really came into its own, as it remains today the sport which attracts the greatest number of participants, is the most popular, and enjoys the greatest number of spectators.