Overview
Athletics is the cornerstone sport of the Olympic Games and its most widely practised. It has appeared in every edition of the modern Olympics since Athens 1896 — a distinction no other sport can claim. Drawing its roots from the ancient Greek Games, athletics today encompasses more than 48 individual events for men and women, giving it the largest programme of any sport at the Olympics.
Competition is divided into two main categories: track and field. Track events include the sprints (100m, 200m, 400m), middle distance (800m, 1500m), long distance (5000m, 10000m, and the marathon), as well as hurdles, the 3000m steeplechase, relays, and race walking (20km and 35km). Field events comprise four jumping disciplines — high jump, long jump, triple jump, and pole vault — and four throwing events: shot put, discus, hammer, and javelin. Rounding out the programme are the combined events: the decathlon for men and the heptathlon for women, widely regarded as the sport's most demanding test.
The sport is governed internationally by World Athletics, founded in 1912. Women's events were introduced at Amsterdam 1928, and the programme has since evolved toward near-complete gender parity, with mixed relays added in recent Olympic cycles. The 100m final remains the most-watched moment of any Games, while the marathon evokes the founding legend of the modern Olympic movement.
Featured News
Abderrahman Samba and Bassem Mohammed to Compete at Elite Athletics Event in Hungary
Doha: The Qatar Athletics Federation announced that Team Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba and Bassem Mohammed will compete at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, from September 11 to 13.The Qatari duo will compete in the men’s 400m hurdles on Saturday, alongside some of the world’s leading track and field athletes.Samba heads into the event having clocked a season’s best of 47.77 seconds during the Diamond League, while Bassem Mohammed recorded his best time of the season, 47.56 seconds, at the Bellinzona meeting in Switzerland.Their participation forms part of the Qatar Athletics Federation’s preparations for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, later this month.Samba has established himself as one of Asia’s leading 400m hurdlers over the past five years, while Bassem Mohammed is the reigning Asian champion, having won the continental title in Bangkok in 2023.In addition to competing in the 400m hurdles at the Asian Games, Samba and Bassem will also represent Qatar in the men’s 4x400m relay, alongside Ammar Ismail Ibrahim and Ashraf Hussen Osman.
Qatar's Hemeida wins 400m hurdles in Bellinzona
Bellinzona: Qatar’s Bassem Hemeida won the men’s 400m hurdles at the Bellinzona Athletics Meeting in Switzerland on Sunday, delivering an impressive performance against a strong international field.Hemeida clocked a season-best 47.56 seconds to secure victory and break the 48-second barrier for the first time this season. His latest performance also marked a significant improvement on his previous season-best of 48.17 seconds, recorded last week at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting in Switzerland.The Bellinzona victory highlights Hemeida’s steady progress as he continues his preparations for the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, next month. His participation in international competitions across the Diamond League, Gold and Silver categories forms part of the Qatar Athletics Federation’s programme to provide national team athletes with high-level competition and valuable preparation ahead of the continental Games.In addition to the 400m hurdles, Hemeida is also a member of Qatar’s 4x400m relay team, making him an important part of the national squad as it builds towards the Asian Games.
Abderrahman Samba Sets Season Best at Zurich Diamond League
Zurich (QNA) – Team Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba recorded his best time of the 2026 season in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Zurich Diamond League meeting on Saturday, the 14th of 15 stops on this year’s Diamond League athletics circuit.Samba finished fifth in a highly competitive race featuring some of the world’s leading hurdlers, clocking a season-best time of 47.77 seconds.The Qatari hurdler produced a strong performance but faced fierce competition in a race that saw Brazil’s Alison dos Santos claim victory in a record-breaking time of 45.80 seconds, surpassing the previous mark of 45.94 seconds set by Norway’s Karsten Warholm in 2021.Warholm finished second in 46.69 seconds, while Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel took third place in 47.50 seconds.
Abderrahman Samba to Compete at Zurich Diamond League Meeting
Zurich: The organizing committee of the Zurich Diamond League meeting, the 14th of 15 stops on this year's Diamond League athletics circuit, announced today that Team Qatar's Abderrahman Samba will compete in the men's 400m hurdles.In an official statement, the organizers confirmed that Samba, renowned for his strength in the 400m hurdles, will line up alongside some of the world's leading athletes, including Olympic and world medalists who have featured prominently on the Diamond League circuit this season.Samba will compete against a strong field that includes Brazil's Alison dos Santos, who won the event at last Friday's Silesia Diamond League meeting in 46.43 seconds, as well as Norway's Karsten Warholm, the world record holder with a time of 45.94 seconds. Slovenia's Jan Matejtek, who has a best of 48.03 seconds, and Nigeria's Ezekiel Nathaniel, with a best of 47.37 seconds, are also set to compete.Samba heads into the Zurich meeting in strong physical condition following his appearance at the previous Diamond League stop in Silesia, Poland, where he clocked a season-best 47.93 seconds, dipping below the 48-second barrier. His personal best stands at 46.98 seconds.The Qatari hurdler began his season at the Xiamen Diamond League meeting in China, the second stop of this year's series, as he sought to regain his physical and competitive form in the 400m hurdles.Samba will now be aiming for victory in Zurich and a place in the final Diamond League meeting in Brussels, before heading to Japan to defend the Asian Games gold medal he won at the 2022 edition.