Free Athletics Screensaver

Athletics Free Screensaver

Athletics, also known as track and field or track and field athletics, is a collection of sports events that involve running, throwing and jumping. The name is derived from the Greek word athlon meaning contest . Athletics was the original event at the first Olympics in 776 BC where the only event held was the stadium-length foot race or stade . There were several other Games held throughout Europe in the classical era: * Panhellenic Games: - The Pythian Games (founded 527 BC) held in Delphi every four years - The Nemean Games (founded 516 BC) held in Argolid every two years - The Isthmian Games (founded 523 BC) held on the Isthmus of Corinth every two years * The Roman Games � Arising from Etruscan rather than purely Greek roots, the Roman Games deemphasized footraces and throwing. Instead, the Greek sports of chariot racing and wrestling, as well as the Etruscan sport of gladiatorial combat, took center stage. Other peoples enjoyed athletic contests, such as the Celts, Teutons and Goths who succeeded the Romans. However, these were often related to combat training. In the Middle Ages the sons of noblemen would be trained in running, leaping and wrestling, in addition to riding, jousting and arms-training. Contests between rivals and friends may have been common on both official and unofficial grounds.