ACOG - Athletics - IBM

Thumbnail Detailed Information
  • Olympic Athletics Overview
  • Spectator's Guide to Athletics
  • Competition Dates
    26 to 29 Jul and 31 Jul to 4 Aug 1996

    Venue
    Olympic Stadium
    Capacity: 85,643

    Map of Marathon Race Course
    Map of Race Walking Course

    Events/Disciplines
    MenWomen
    100m100m
    200m200m
    400m400m
    800m800m
    1500m1500m
    5000m5000m
    10,000m10,000m
    MarathonMarathon
    110m Hurdles100m Hurdles
    400m Hurdles400m Hurdles
    3000m Steeplechase
    High JumpHigh Jump
    Pole Vault
    Long JumpLong Jump
    Triple JumpTriple Jump
    Shot PutShot Put
    Discus ThrowDiscus Throw
    Hammer Throw
    Javelin ThrowJavelin Throw
    DecathlonHeptathlon
    20km Walk10km Walk
    50km Walk
    4 x 100m Relay4 x 100m Relay
    4 x 400m Relay4 x 400m Relay
    Wheelchair 1500m*Wheelchair 800m*
    *Although on the athletics programme, the wheelchair event does not count toward the official medal count.

    Number of Athletes
    2,000 athletes (approximately 1,300 men, 700 women)

    Changes Since Barcelona
    Added: Women’s 5000m, women’s triple jump
    Dropped: Women’s 3000m

    Qualifications
    To qualify two or three athletes per event, a country’s athletes must meet “A” qualifying standards. To qualify one athlete per event, he/she must meet a lesser “B” standard. Countries may enter one man and one woman in any single event except decathlon / heptathlon regardless of qualifying times. Each IAAF-member country holds selection meets or chooses athletes by 5 Jul 1996.

    Qualification Standards
    WomenA StandardB Standard
    EventElectronic TimingHand TimingElectronic TimingHand Timing
    100m11.4411.211.6411.4
    200m23.2423.023.5423.3
    400m52.3452.253.3453.2
    800m2:01.002:01.02:03.002:03.0
    1500m4:10.004:10.04:14.004:14.0
    5000m15:45.0015:45.016:05.0016:05.0
    10,000m32:30.0032:30.033:20.0033:20.0
    100m Hurdles13.1412.913.5413.3
    400m Hurdles56.1456.057.1457.0
    10km Walk45:3048:00
    Marathon2:35.002:35.002:50.002:50.00
    High Jump1.92m1.87m
    Long Jump6.55m6.40m
    Triple Jump13.75m13.50m
    Shot Put18.00m17.10m
    Discus Throw60.00m57.00m
    Javelin Throw60.00m57.00m
    Heptathlon6,000 pts5,700 pts

    MenA StandardB Standard
    EventElectronic TimingHand TimingElectronic TimingHand Timing
    100m10.3410.110.5410.3
    200m20.8420.621.0420.8
    400m45.8445.746.4446.3
    800m1:46.51:46.51:47.51:47.5
    1500m3:38.03:38.03:40.53:40.5
    5000m13:29.013:29.013:38.013:38.0
    10,000m28:10.028:10.028:30.028:30.0
    110m Hurdles13.8413.614.1413.9
    400m Hurdles50.0449.950.5450.4
    3000m Steeplechase8:30.08:30.08:35.08:35.0
    20km Walk1:23.301:26.00
    50km Walk4:00.002:16.004:10.00
    Marathon2:16.002:25.002:25.00
    High Jump2.27m2.23m
    Long Jump8.00m7.90m
    Triple Jump16.85m16.50m
    Pole Vault5.60m5.40m
    Shot Put19.50m19.00m
    Discus Throw62.00m60.00m
    Javelin Throw80.0075.00m
    Hammer Throw74.0070.00m
    Decathlon7,950 pts7,700 pts

    Competition Format
    Running Events: Between one and four rounds of competition
    Field Events: Qualifying round and final round
    Decathlon / Heptathlon: Each event’s points are totaled to determine the winner
    Marathon / Race Walk: Finals only with mass start

    International Federation
    IAAF - International Amateur Athletic Federation
    17, Rue Princesse-Florestine
    BP 359
    98007 Monte Carlo, Monacco
    Tel: (33-93) 30-7070
    Fax: (33-93) 15-9515

    Olympic Debut
    Men: 1896
    Women: 1928

    Olympic History
    The first ancient Olympic sport, athletics has been held in every Modern Games. The U.S. men, with more than four times as many medal winners as any other country, and women from the former Soviet Union and German Democratic Republic (East Germany) have been the historical powers. Distance runner Paovo NURMI (FIN), long and high jumper Ray EWRY (USA) and American sprinter Carl LEWIS are among the most decorated athletes in the sport.

    WXIA: Marc Pickard shows why a thin blue line snaking through Atlanta will help marathoners know where to run. 12 June 1996. 2.7mb AVI -- 3.6mb QuickTime



    Olympic Factoid
    Pin trading was one of the most popular Olympic sports, with more than 1.2 million pins changing hands during the Games in the Coca Cola Pin Trading Center at Centennial Olympic Park.