Kneeling for detailed rules of track and field

Rules for all-around events

The women's heptathlon is a two-day event, with the following events in order of precedence: 100-meter hurdles, high jump and shot put on the first day; 200-meter run, long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter run on the second day. The men's decathlon is also a two-day event: 100-meter run, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400-meter run on the first day; and 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run on the second day.

Competition scoring

Decathletes and heptathletes are scored based on their performance in each event, with the highest final total winning. Thus an athlete can only end up winning if he or she performs well in each event rather than favoring one. In fact, complex scoring systems have been devised to ensure that an athlete who dominates one event does not score more points than an athlete who does better in several events. The score for each event depends on the scoring criteria for that event, and the Olympics have developed a table of scoring equivalents based on world records, from which the competitors' results are converted into points and then added up to give a total score. For example, Dan O'Brien of the United States, the gold medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, scored 959 points for the 100-meter dash in 10.57 seconds, 1,058 points for the long jump of 7.99 meters, 815 points for the shot put, and so on. It totaled 8,817 points, just shy of his 1992 world record of 8,891.

Based on the same idea, the Olympics have a separate score conversion table for women's competitions. Joanna Koss of the United States still holds the world record of 7,291 total points she set at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Event Profile

In track events, with the exception of the 1,500 and 800 meters, competitors are ranked according to their personal best times. In the 1500m and 800m, the last events of the decathlon and heptathlon, the order is determined by the total results of the first nine or six events in order of precedence. In the field events, athletes are divided into two groups based on their personal bests in the event.

Rules

The rules for the decathlon and heptathlon are basically the same as for the individual events, with a few minor differences: an athlete is penalized if he or she makes two starts in a single event, but is penalized if he or she makes three starts in an all-around event. The new world or Olympic record requires that the wind speed at the time of the race should not exceed 2 meters per second, while the all-around competition is 4 meters per second. You can refer to the individual competition rules for specific rules.

High jump and pole vault

Event description

The high jump requires athletes to jump on one foot, over a horizontal bar and without touching it to the support bar. The same applies to the pole vault. The starting height for each competition is set by the referee, and the bar rises at least 2 centimeters in each round for the high jump and 5 centimeters for the pole vault, until the last person is left. High jumpers and pole vaulters can choose for themselves when to jump or cross the bar. They are eliminated if they fail in three attempts to jump the same height. The highest height they successfully cross is their final score.

Ties

There is strategy in jumping over certain heights. If two people are tied, there are generally two ways to break a tie: first, to see who uses fewer passes through the same height; and second, to see which one misses fewer jumps over the course of the entire competition. If it's still a tie, the race produces a tied winner, unless there aren't that many gold medals.

Tiebreakers

Tiebreaker matches are held according to the following rules. Competitors in each tiebreaker are allowed only one jump, with elimination starting at the lowest height. The height goes up if all athletes pass, and down if all athletes fail, until only one athlete survives elimination.

Preliminary rounds

The high jump and pole vault competitions are held in two rounds. The preliminary rounds are usually divided into two groups and their purpose is to determine the 12 athletes who will compete in the finals. There is an automatic qualifying test prior to the competition, and any athlete who meets this standard will automatically advance to the final. If fewer than 12 pass the qualifying test, the best of those who do not meet the standard advance to the final to fill the gap in numbers.

Measurement scales

In the high jump and pole vault, all scales are measured in centimeters from the ground to the highest point of the lowest part of the bar.

Long Jump and Triple Jump

Event Description

The long jump and triple jump both consist of two parts: a long run and a jump as far as possible toward the landing zone. In the triple jump athletes take three steps from the starting line into the pit, as its name suggests. This means that they must first step off the foot that they will eventually jump on, then take a big step to change feet, and finally leap into the pit. In biathlon, only the athlete's best that time is recorded. After three rounds, the top eight advance to the middle three rounds. They then go out to compete in the reverse order of their rankings from the first three rounds.

Ties

Any ties are decided by comparing the next best scores. If that doesn't solve the problem, the third best score is compared, and so on. If it's still a tie, it's a tie for the title, unless there aren't enough gold medals to hand out. If there is no tie, then the athletes continue to compete until a winner is determined.

Measurement scale

The distance of the jump is measured from the far end of the starting line to the nearest mark left by the jumper in the sandpit. In the case of non-integer numbers, the length value shall be rounded to the nearest centimeter.

Fouls

A foul is committed when an athlete steps over the line of scrimmage at the end of the runway or touches the field beyond the nearest mark in the sandpit. The latter situation often occurs when an athlete is trying to reach out to support his or her body in order to maintain balance.

Wind Assisted

A long jump or triple jump result cannot be recognized as a new World Record when the downwind wind speed exceeds 7.2 km/sec.

Other rules

If an athlete encounters an obstacle while jumping, the Referee may award obstruction and give a second attempt. Athletes may leave the competition area during the competition, but must be authorized by the referee and accompanied by the referee. Athletes may not receive assistance while the competition is in progress. except for a physical examination by designated medical personnel or for conversation or other communication with individuals not in the competition area. The Referee may void a trial jump for an athlete who has exceeded the time limit for the competition and has not jumped as required. If the jump is made before the time runs out, the result will be counted.

Competition Venue

High Jump

In the High Jump, the high jumper has a length of 20 meters from the starting point to the bottom of the bar. The crossbar is 4 meters long, weighs no more than 4 kilograms, and is supported by two vertical bars. The high jumper will land on a very large and soft foam mat.

Pole vault

In the pole vault, pole vaulters have a 40-meter-long assisted run, and at the start they stick their pole out into a one-meter-long recessed groove at the end of the runway. The groove of the groove deepens towards the end of the runway to a maximum depth of 20 centimeters. The groove is tapered to catch the pole at the end of the runway. The pole is smooth and made to the length and thickness required by the athlete. The pole vault crossbar is basically the same as the high jump crossbar, but it is lighter for safety. Pole vaulters also land on a soft foam mat.

Long and triple jump

The long and triple jumps have an assisted run of at least 40 meters. The foul line is the far line of a 20-centimeter wide starting board, and the long jumper lands in a rectangular, soft, wet sand pit. In the long jump, the bunker is 1 to 3 meters away from the starting board; in the triple jump, the bunker is 13 meters away from the starting board in the men's competition and 11 meters away in the women's competition. At the far end of the springboard there is a foul line made of clay to identify whether an athlete has fouled the jump.

Rounds and divisions

The competition is divided into two, three or four rounds, depending on the number of participants. The top two runners in each group advance to the next round, and in many events the third place team can also qualify. The results of the preliminary rounds are ranked using the cross-ranking method, which provides for an even distribution of the top athletes into groups according to their results. The performance ranking is based on the athlete's best performance in the previous season. In subsequent rounds, the groupings are based on the athletes' performance in the previous round. If possible, athletes from the same country should be placed in different groups.

Track Rules

Athletes must remain on their own track throughout all sprint races, the 110-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. 800 meters and 4x400-meter relays start on their own track and do not leave their track until the athlete passes the breakaway line, which marks the lane for crosstracking. In the first round of the team competition, the athletes are ranked on which track they are to be placed by a computer that is free to do so. For subsequent rounds, the choice of track is based on the athlete's performance in the previous round. The goal of this rule is to allow the better athletes to be ranked on the runways near the center; good runways are runways 3, 4, 5, and 6, which should be occupied by each of the top 4 ranked athletes. Lanes 1, 2, 7, 8, are then occupied by the bottom 4.

Start

The race starts when the gun of the starter is fired. The marshal first ensures that the athletes are in the correct starting position, then calls out "on your mark" and "ready", and finally the gun goes off. If an athlete jumps the gun, the starter will call a foul. If the athlete who has committed the foul jumps again, he/she will be disqualified from the competition. However, the decathlon and heptathlon require three fouls before disqualification. Athletes in the sprints (from 100 to 400 meters) and the first runners in the relays are required to use the starter, while events over 800 meters have a standing start, where the marshal simply yells, "On your mark," and then fires the gun.

Winning

The winner is the first athlete whose body touches the finish line. If two athletes compete for the right to advance to the next round, they can both advance to the next round if the difference in the time they hit the line during the race is less than one thousandth of a second. If the measurement of the time difference cannot be realized, a draw is made to determine who advances to the next round. If this happens in the final, the judges can arrange for the two athletes to race again individually, and if this is not feasible then there is a tie for the title.

Relays

In all relays athletes must complete the handover of the baton in a 20 meter handover zone. After completing the baton handover, athletes must remain in their team's track until all baton handovers have been completed by each team or they will be disqualified from the race. If an athlete drops the baton during a relay race, only he can pick it up again. Athletes may leave their track to pick up the baton but must not interfere with other athletes.

Wind boost

In a sprint or hurdle race if the downwind wind speed exceeds 2 m/s (7.2 km/s) then the time set in the race cannot become a new world record.

The ring

The ring is oval in shape, 400 meters long, with runway lines drawn on the inside. There are 5-centimeter-high sidelines along the inside edge of the ring, and the runway lines are spaced 1.22 to 1.25 meters apart. The race is run in an anti-clockwise direction, with the ring being runways 1 through 8 in order from the inside to the outside.

Road races

The road races at Sydney are set to undergo a change.The women's 20-kilometer race walk was cut to 10 kilometers at the 1996 Atlanta Games and is set to be restored to 20 kilometers at this year's Games. This event is included in the schedule, which also includes the men's 20-kilometer race walk, the 50-kilometer race walk, and the men's and women's marathons. Unlike track events, the marathon and the race walk allow athletes to leave the course as long as they are under the supervision of a judge, and if they don't they are disqualified.

Start

Each road event is individual and there are no trials. Once the marshal has called the athletes to the start line, the athletes are free to choose their starting position on the start line. The race starts when the gun is fired by the marshal's office. Anyone who jumps the start twice will be penalized and disqualified from the race.

Winning

Whoever is the first to touch the finish line is the winner of the race.

Drink Stations

Off-course help is available to participants in any road race, but there are strict rules about this. Water and other beverages are provided at the start and finish of the race, and drink stations are set up at 5-kilometer intervals along the race route. Drinks are placed within easy reach of athletes as they pass by. Athletes may prepare their own water and may propose that a drink station be set up where they request it. Drinking water and wet sponge stations are set up between the two drink stations. There the distance runners and walkers can get drinking water as they pass by and can cool their heads by squeezing water from a sponge to rinse their heads. Athletes will not be able to get drinks from anywhere else on the race route other than the stations that have been set up.

Rules of the race walk

There are two core rules of the race walk. Racewalking athletes use distinctive footwork that may seem unusual, but this footwork is dictated by the rules. First, a walker must always have one foot on the ground at all times. Secondly, from the moment the forward foot hits the ground until the leg reaches a vertical position, the leg must remain straight and the knee must not bend. There are nine judges spread out along the race route to monitor any athletes for foul play. They do not use electronic devices to help in their judging, as the rules state that competitors are to be supervised by the naked eye. The judges alert a racewalker once when they see that he is about to commit a foul. The reminder is usually indicated by showing the offender a white sign on both sides of the road, after which the referee informs the head judge. If all three judges warn the same athlete, he or she is penalized.

Other Rules

The referee may penalize an athlete who pushes or obstructs another person during the race. Athletes who voluntarily leave the track during a track race are not allowed to continue the race. Athletes are not allowed to receive help or advice during track races, except for races over 5000 meters, where drinks and sponges may be provided, weather permitting.

Rules for the throwing events

The women's chainstroke will be an official event for the first time at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, making it truly equal for men and women in the throwing events. However, in the shot put, discus and javelin, there are still some differences in details. Because both men's and women's events are different in terms of the weight and size of the throws.

Event Description

The Olympic throwing events consist of six rounds. In the ancient Olympiad the javelin was competing for accuracy, and the distance of the competition is set by the modern Olympic Games. The javelin is the only one of the four major categories of throwing events that allows for assisted running. For each event, only the athlete's best single performance in the competition is recorded. After three rounds, the top eight finishers in each event advance to the final three rounds of the competition, with the order of the competition consisting of the places from the first three rounds in reverse order.

Ties

If there is a tie, the athletes' second-best scores are compared; if it is still the same, the third-best scores are compared, and so on. If a tie still exists, the two athletes are tied for first place. If a winner must be determined, then the athletes continue to compete until a winner is determined. In all throwing events, if a score occurs round up that distance to the smallest number of centimeters from the measured distance.

Time Limits

The referee may penalize an athlete for an "unreasonable" delay in the throw by reducing the throw by one. However, if the athlete throws the object before the time runs out, the result is retained. The time limit for throwing competitions is generally one minute.

Other Rules

A competitor may abandon a throw in the middle of a maneuver and start again, provided the athlete has not thrown the object or taken his/her foot off the throwing circle or track. If the athlete is obstructed during the throw, the referee shall rule obstruction and give a second chance to throw. Participants may leave the competition area during the competition, but must be authorized by the referee and accompanied by the referee. Athletes may not receive assistance while the competition is in progress, except for medical examination with the permission of the referee, nor may they talk or communicate with anyone outside the competition area. A javelin thrower may not turn his back completely to the javelin he has thrown after the throw. After completing the throw, chain, discus and shot put athletes must exit from behind the throwing circle.

Equipment

Javelin

The javelin has three parts, the body, the head and the grip. The body is a smooth metal rod that tapers at the ends. The sear is a sharp metal tip fixed to the front of the body. The grip wraps around the entire center of gravity of the gun. The men's javelin is about 2.6-2.7 meters long and weighs at least 800 grams; the women's javelin is about 2.2-2.3 meters long and weighs at least 600 grams.

Chainball

The chainball also consists of three parts - a sphere, a metal chain and a handle. The sphere is a round ball with a diameter of 110 millimeters to 130 millimeters for men's games and 95 to 110 millimeters for women. The metal chain has a diameter of 3 millimeters, and its ends are connected by curved handles. The men's chain ball weighs about 7.26 kilograms overall and is about 117.5 to 121.5 centimeters long. The women's chain weighs at least 4 kilograms and is about 116-119.5 centimeters long.

Shot put

The shot put is heavy and round, a metal ball with a smooth surface. In men's competitions, the diameter of the shot put must be between 110-130 millimeters, and for women between 95-110 millimeters.

Discus

The discus is a wooden disc with a metal wrapped rim, which is as smooth as the top and bottom and has a flat center. The men's discus weighs about 2.005-2.025 kilograms and has a diameter of 21.8-22.1 centimeters. The women's discus weighs about 1.005-1.025 kilograms and has a diameter of 18-18.2 centimeters.

Throwing Area

Discus, Shot Put, and Streak

In the discus, shot put, and streak events athletes start their throws standing up in the throwing circle. The periphery of the throwing circle is bordered with iron, 6 millimeters thick, and the top is painted white. During the throw, the athlete cannot touch the top of the iron rim or the ground outside the throwing circle. The diameter of the throwing circle is 2,135 meters for shot put and chain shot, and slightly larger at 2.5 meters for discus. The ground inside the ring is made of concrete or a similarly hard and non-slip material, and is slightly lower than the ground level. A wooden stopper 1.21-1.23 meters long is placed directly in front of the shot put throwing circle to prevent the athlete from slipping out of the circle. Athletes can touch the inside of the baffle, but not the top of the baffle.

Javelin

The javelin throw is quite different. Competitors have to run a distance of 30-36.5 meters before throwing the javelin. There are two boundary lines on either side of the runway that assists the run, and at the top of the boundary lines is a metal or wooden arc behind which the thrower must throw the javelin.

Landing zones

In all four races, the landing zones are flat areas made up of cinders, grass, or other material that leaves a mark. Each sector is separated by a 5-centimeter wide white line. The angle of the sectors of the landing zone is 40 degrees in the shot put, chain shot and discus, and 29 degrees in the javelin.