<P> The sport of track and field has its roots in human prehistory . Track and field - style events are among the oldest of all sporting competitions , as running , jumping and throwing are natural and universal forms of human physical expression . The first recorded examples of organized track and field events at a sports festival are the Ancient Olympic Games . At the first Games in 776 BC in Olympia , Greece , only one event was contested : the stadion footrace . The scope of the Games expanded in later years to include further running competitions , but the introduction of the Ancient Olympic pentathlon marked a step towards track and field as it is recognized today -- it comprised a five - event competition of the long jump , javelin throw , discus throw , stadion footrace , and wrestling . </P>
<P> The sport of track and field has its roots in human prehistory . Track and field - style events are among the oldest of all sporting competitions , as running , jumping and throwing are natural and universal forms of human physical expression . The first recorded examples of organized track and field events at a sports festival are the Ancient Olympic Games . At the first Games in 776 BC in Olympia , Greece , only one event was contested : the stadion footrace . The scope of the Games expanded in later years to include further running competitions , but the introduction of the Ancient Olympic pentathlon marked a step towards track and field as it is recognized today -- it comprised a five - event competition of the long jump , javelin throw , discus throw , stadion footrace , and wrestling . </P>
when did track and field became an olympic sport
when did track and field became an olympic sport
At the first Games in 776 BC in Olympia , Greece
At the first Games in 776 BC in Olympia , Greece