Athletics is a broad term encompassing a variety of sports involving running, jumping, and throwing. It is one of the oldest forms of sport and is a core part of the Summer Olympic Games.

Key components of athletics include:

• Track Events: Running races of various distances, hurdles, and relays.
• Field Events: Jumping events like long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole vault; and throwing events like shot put, discus, javelin, and hammer throw.
• Combined Events: Competitions like the decathlon (for men) and heptathlon (for women), which combine multiple track and field events.

More broadly, "athletics" can also be used as a general term for sports and physical activities.

For more detailed information, you can refer to these resources:

• World Athletics Official Website
• Britannica - Track and Field