Editing Track and field (section)

==Competitions==
{{See also|Sport of athletics#Competitions|l1=Athletics competitions}}

===Olympics, Paralympics and world championships===
[[File:Usain Bolt winning-cropped2.jpg|thumb|The 100 m final at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]]]
The major global track and field competitions are both held under the scope of athletics. Track and field contests make up the majority of events on the [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic]] and [[Athletics at the Summer Paralympics|Paralympic athletics]] programmes, which occur every four years. Track and field events have held a prominent position at the [[Summer Olympics]] since its inception in 1896,<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=http://trackandfield.about.com/od/trackfieldhistory/u/meetsandathletes.htm |title=Track and field's greatest events and top competitors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601062424/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/trackfieldhistory/u/meetsandathletes.htm |archive-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=usurped |website=About |access-date=6 April 2010}}</ref> and the events are typically held in the main stadium of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Events such as the [[100 metres]] receive some of the highest levels of media coverage of any Olympic or Paralympic sporting event.

The other two major international competition for track and field are organised by the IAAF. The IAAF had selected the Olympic competition as its [[world championship]] event in 1913, but a separate world championships for athletics alone was first held in 1983 – the [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics]]. The championships comprised track and field competitions plus the [[marathon]] and [[racewalking]] competitions. Initially, this worked on a quadrennial basis but, after 1991, it changed to a biennial format. In terms of indoor track and field, the [[IAAF World Indoor Championships]] has been held every two years since 1985 and this is the only world championships that consists of solely track and field events.

USA Track and Field has officially announced that in 2025 the USATF Para National Championships will take place at the Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.  This is the first time in U.S. track and field history that Para will be showcased at the same championship meet as able-bodied athletes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USA Track & Field {{!}} USA Track & Field Announces Historic 2025 USATF Para National Championships |url=https://www.usatf.org/news/2025/usa-track-field-announces-historic-2025-usatf-para |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=usatf.org}}</ref>

===Other championships===
[[File:2006 European Championships in Athletics - Ullevi august 11th.jpg|thumb|The [[2006 European Athletics Championships]] at [[Ullevi Stadium]]]]
Similar to the event programmes at the Olympics, Paralympics and World Championships, track and field forms a significant part of continental championships. The [[South American Championships in Athletics]], created in 1919,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/sacu.htm |title=South American Championships (Unofficial) |publisher=gbrathletics |access-date=6 September 2015 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201005122/http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/sacu.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> was the first continental championships and the [[European Athletics Championships]] became the second championships of this type in 1934.<ref>{{Cite book |title=European Athletics Championships Zürich 2014 – STATISTICS HANDBOOK |url=http://www.european-athletics.org/mm/Document/EventsMeetings/General/01/27/31/44/StatisticsHandbookZ%C3%BCrich2014_Neutral.pdf |publisher=[[European Athletics Association]] |access-date=13 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808114554/http://www.european-athletics.org/mm/Document/EventsMeetings/General/01/27/31/44/StatisticsHandbookZ%C3%BCrich2014_Neutral.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Asian Athletics Championships]] and [[African Championships in Athletics]] were created in the 1970s and Oceania started its [[Oceania Area Championships in Athletics|championships]] in 1990.

There are also indoor continental competitions in Europe ([[European Athletics Indoor Championships]]) and Asia ([[Asian Indoor Athletics Championships]]). There has not been a consistent championships for all of North America, which may be (in part) due to the success of both the [[Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics|Central American and Caribbean Championships]] and the [[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships]]. Most countries have a national championship in track and field and, for athletes, these often play a role in gaining selection into major competitions. Some countries hold many track and field championships at [[high school]] and [[college]]-level, which help develop younger athletes. Some of these have gained significant exposure and prestige, such as the [[NCAA Track and Field Championship (disambiguation)|NCAA Track and Field Championship]]<!-- intentional disambiguation target --> in the United States and the [[Inter-Secondary Schools Boys and Girls Championships|Jamaican High School Championships]].<ref>Redpath, Laura (20 March 2010). [http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100320/lead/lead5.html Historic book on Champs hits the market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408153540/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100320/lead/lead5.html |date=8 April 2010 }}. ''[[Jamaica Gleaner]]''. Retrieved on 6 March 2010.</ref> However, the number and status of such competitions significantly vary from country to country.

===Multi-sport events===
{{See also|Sport of athletics#multi-sport events|l1=Athletics at multi-sport events}}
[[File:Fabiana Murer02.jpg|thumb|The [[pole vault]] competition at the [[2007 Pan American Games]]]]
Mirroring the role that track and field events have at the Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the sport is featured within the athletics programmes of many major [[multi-sport event]]s. Among some of the first of these events to follow the Olympic-style model were the [[World University Games]] in [[1923 International Universities Championships|1923]], the [[Commonwealth Games]] in [[1930 British Empire Games|1930]], and the [[Maccabiah Games]] in [[1932 Maccabiah Games|1932]].<ref>Bell, Daniel (2003). ''Encyclopedia of International Games''. McFarland and Company, Inc. Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina. {{ISBN|0-7864-1026-4}}.</ref> The number of major multi-sport events greatly increased during the 20th century and thus did the number of track and field events held within them. Typically, track and field events are hosted at the main stadium of the games.

After the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the most prominent events for track and field athletes include the three IOC-sanctioned continental games: the [[All-Africa Games]], [[Asian Games]], and the [[Pan American Games]]. Other games such as the Commonwealth Games and [[Summer Universiade]], and [[World Masters Games]] have significant participation from track and field athletes. Track and field is also present at the national games level, with competitions such as the [[National Games of China|Chinese National Games]] serving as the most prestigious national competition for domestic track and field athletes.

===Meetings===
[[File:Northbridge International School Cambodia, Track meet.jpg|thumb|A child taking part in a local schools meeting in [[Cambodia]]]]
One-day track and field meetings form the most common and seasonal aspect of the sport – they are the most basic level of track and field competition. Meetings are generally organised annually either under the patronage of an educational institution or sports club, or by a group or business that serves as the [[Promoter (entertainment)|meeting promoter]]. In the case of the former, athletes are selected to represent their club or institution. In the case of privately run or independent meetings, athletes participate on an invitation-only basis.<ref>[http://www.athle.com/asp.net/main.html/html.aspx?htmlid=418 Les Meetings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008170547/http://www.athle.com/asp.net/main.html/html.aspx?htmlid=418 |date=8 October 2009 }}. [[:fr:Fédération française d'athlétisme|Fédération française d'athlétisme]]. Retrieved on 6 April 2010.</ref>

The most basic type of meetings are [[all-comers track meet]]s, which are largely small, local, informal competitions that allow people of all ages and abilities to compete. As meetings become more organized they can gain official sanctioning by the local or national association for the sport.<ref>[http://www.usatf.org/events/sanctions/ Event Sanctions – Overview & Benefits] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402103944/http://www.usatf.org/events/sanctions/ |date=2 April 2010 }}. [[USATF]]. Retrieved on 7 April 2010.</ref>

At the professional level, meetings began to offer significant financial incentives for all athletes in the 1990s in Europe with the creation of the [[Golden Four]] competition, comprising meetings in [[Weltklasse Zürich|Zürich]], [[Memorial Van Damme|Brussels]], [[ISTAF Berlin|Berlin]] and [[Bislett Games|Oslo]]. This expanded and received IAAF backing as the [[IAAF Golden League]] in 1998,<ref>Rowbottom, Mike (12 November 1997). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/athletics-golden-four-extended-with-more-money-and-meetings-1295523.html?cmp=ilc-n Athletics: Golden Four extended with more money and meetings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701083408/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/athletics-golden-four-extended-with-more-money-and-meetings-1295523.html?cmp=ilc-n |date=1 July 2017 }}. ''[[The Independent]]''. Retrieved on 6 April 2010.</ref> which was later supplemented by the branding of selected meetings worldwide as the [[IAAF World Athletics Tour]]. In 2010, the Golden League idea was expanded globally as the [[Diamond League]] series and this now forms the top tier of professional one-day track and field meetings.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/mar/02/diamond-league-athletics Diamond League to launch next year] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301065159/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/mar/02/diamond-league-athletics |date=1 March 2017 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'' (2 March 2009). Retrieved on 6 April 2010.</ref>

=== World rankings ===
The [[IAAF World Rankings]] system was introduced for the 2018 season. An athlete's position within the ranking will be determined by points scored based on their performance and importance of the competition. The points will be considered for eligibility for the World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.iaaf.org/news/press-release/iaaf-official-world-rankings|title=IAAF: IAAF Official World Rankings first step in fundamental changes in athletics{{!}} News {{!}} iaaf.org|website=iaaf.org|access-date=22 July 2019|archive-date=9 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409041936/https://www.iaaf.org/news/press-release/iaaf-official-world-rankings|url-status=live}}</ref> This system will affect athlete participation, which has typically been determined by national bodies, either through selection panels or national trials events.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.srf.ch/sport/mehr-sport/leichtathletik/leichtathletik-neu-mit-weltrangliste |title=Leichtathletik neu mit Weltrangliste |last=agenturen/pwi |work=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) |access-date=3 November 2017 |language=de-CH |archive-date=7 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107033052/https://www.srf.ch/sport/mehr-sport/leichtathletik/leichtathletik-neu-mit-weltrangliste |url-status=live }}</ref>