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776 BCE
the beggining
They initially held the Olympic games in ancient Greece as a religious festival. The event was held only for men, once a year.
This changed how people saw running, it became more of a talent or skill, rather than a survival tactic. -
first organized modern meet
The Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst held the first organized track and field meet. The sport went off the map due to the dark ages and, remained just for men. -
First English championship
Kicked up the competition yearly due to the new popularity for it. Still just for men -
First modern Olympic games
track and field were the main focus, also making it an international sport creating a larger appreciation for the sport itself. -
start up of the IAAF
Representatives from 16 countries decided to create the IAAF, the International Amateur Athletic Federation. They set standards, roles, and world records, and made sure all the codes were followed. -
Woman join the game
6 countries formed Athletic Federation for Women which later merged with the IAAF. Thanks to that, woman were now allowed to compete and show off their talents and interest in the sport itself. Also enabled schools to allow female track teams. -
First african American to make noise
Jessie Owens and his American team faced the nazi,s and the rest of the countries in the '36 Olympics, showing their talents they proceeded to dominate and truly take a huge gut punch to the nazi government -
First rivalry
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics sent its first olympic team, they proceeded to win 7 medals, kicked off the US v. USSR, and it was the tip off to the cold war. -
Profesionalism
Track had finally gotten the full recognition it deserved allowing everyone to view it as less of a pleasure activity and more as an actual job. The sport had gained the professionalism it deserved and more people were eager to join it -
Atheletic congress
This group was created because the original franchise could not support the cost requirements to travel internationally, it became fully operational In 1979 with the first meeting in Las Vegas but, was later moved to Dallas/ Fort Worth in 1980. -
New name
They changed the name to USATAF (USA Track and Field) to create more recognition for the sport and stir up some more athletes, and it did