In the summer Olympics, Athletics is one of the largest events. It is one of the most popular sports in the Olympics and the world. Athletics has been around since the very first Olympics in 776 BC. It was one of the original sports in the first modern Olympics in 1896. In Athletics there are 46 events; 24 for men and 22 for women. 

The events for men are:

• Track - 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, 110 meter hurdles, 400 meter hurdles, 3,000 meter steeplechase, 4 x 100 meter relay and 4 x 400 meter relay
• Jumping - high jump, pole vault, long jump, and triple jump
• Throwing - shot put, discus, hammer, javelin
• Decathlon and Road Events - Marathon, and 20 and 50-kilometer road walk

The women's events are:

• Track - 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, 100 meter hurdles, 400 meter hurdles, 4 x 100 meter relay, 4 x 400 meter relay
• Jumping - high jump, pole vault, long jump and triple jump
• Throwing - shot put, discus, hammer and javelin
• Heptathlon and Road Events - marathon and 20-kilometer road walk 

Often there are many events taking place at the same time. There are running events that take place on the track and jumping and throwing events that take place on the inside part of the track.

Some of the greatest track and field athletes of all time are: Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Bob Beamon, Wilma Rudolph, Florence Griffith Joyner, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Marion Jones.