2010 Commonwealth Games, Athletics

Out of the six sports that featured in the events of the first Commonwealth Games, athletics was one of them. Athletics is an important sport and has remained a part of Commonwealth Games from the time of the inception of this grand sporting event. While in the first Commonwealth Games that was held in the year 1930 in Hamilton, 10 countries had participated in this sport, the 2006 Commonwealth Games saw the participation 61 countries. 2010 Commonwealth Games will also witness competition between men and women in the athletics event.


Athletics is also known as 'track and field athletics' and involve a set of sports like running, jumping, and throwing. The athletics program of the Commonwealth Games includes mainly Walks, Track and Field and Marathon. Both men and women representing different Commonwealth members fight for the three positions in the athletics section. Till now England has won the maximum number of gold medals in Commonwealth Games, which is followed by Australia.

The three main categories of athletics are further divided into various sub categories. Running, throwing and jumping are the three main sub categories of Track and Field.

In the Walking section of athletics, race walking is the most important one. Athletes taking part in long-distance event of race have to walk 50 km to win 3 gold medals that include 1 for men and 2 for men.

While running includes sprints of 100m, 200m and 400m, middle distance covers 500m and 1500 m and long distance of 3000 m, 5000 m and 10,000 m. In addition, this section of running also includes relays and hurdles races. The final category of Track and Field, jumping, High Jump, Triple Jump, Long Jump Pole Vault is included. In the category of throwing, various events that include Shot Put, Discus, Hammer Throw and Javelin form the major sub categories.

The 'long-distance running' or Marathon is held where the participants have to compete for two gold medals.

Commonwealth Games has the unique inclusion of Elite Athletes with a Disability also known as EAD; this is an important part of this sporting event. This includes events like 100 m, 200 m as well as 800 m running of short distance. Other events like discus throw and shot put are also included.

In the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Delhi, all events of athletics will be conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The participants will fight for 69 medals. 44 events of 46 events will be held from 6th to 12th October, 20km walk is scheduled on 9th October and 14th October is scheduled for the marathon. The individual athletics event will have 3 athletes for each event. The events for men and women include the following:

1.Track

•100 m
•200 m
•400 m
•800 m
•1500 m
•3000 m Steeplechase
•5000 m
•10000 m
•110 m H
•400 m H
•4x100 m Relay
•4x400 m Relay

2.Throws

•Shot Put
•Discus Throw
•Hammer Throw
•Javelin Throw

3.Jumps

•Long Jump
•High Jump
•Triple Jump
•Pole Vault

4.Combined

•Decathlon

5.Road

•Marathon
•20 km Walk