Shot Put

Aim and Method:

using one hand and gliding across the circle, the athlete propels the shot through the air for the maximum distance.

Equipment:

Athletes originally threw a rock. This was replaced by an iron ball called a shot. Men put or push (do not throw) a 7.26 kg shot and women use a shot of 4.00 kg. The shot is made of solid iron, brass, stainless steel or any metal harder than brass. It can also be made of a shell of these metals filled with lead or other material.

The shot must be sized within certain diameter limits. A lathe is used to machine finish it to be smooth and spherical.

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Discus

Aim and method:

with upper body spinning, to project the discus as far as possible.

Equipment:

In the ancient Olympics, the discus was made of stone, iron, bronze or lead and was shaped like a flying saucer. Sizes varied, as younger boys were not expected to throw the same weight as the men.

Today, the discus may be solid or hollow and is generally made of wood, with a stainless steel circular rim. There can be circular plates set flush into the centre of the sides made of carbon-reinforced fibreglass.

It is made to set specifications of shape, and weighs 2.0 kg for men and 1.0 kg for women.

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Hammer Throw

Aim and method:

to hurl a ‘hammer’ (a heavy ball attached via a length of wire to a metal handle) as far as possible.

Athletes compete by gripping the handle with both hands and keeping their feet still, whirling the ball around in circles above their head. They then spin their body around three times to give even greater speed to the ball and release it upward and outward.

Equipment:

The head (ball) can be made of solid iron, brass or any metal harder than brass. It can also be made from a shell of these metals and filled with lead or other material. It is smooth and round and with a minimum diameter of 110mm for men and 95mm for women.

The steel wire attaching the head to the metal handle can be from 1.175 to 1.215 m in length. The wire must not be able to be stretched.

It weighs at least 7.26 kg for men and 4 kg for women (the same as the shotput).

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Javelin

Aim and method:

Unlike other throwing events, the athlete is allowed to sprint 30m to a throwing line before hurling the javelin.
The tip of the metal head must hit the ground first for the throw to be valid.

Equipment:

Early javelins were spears made of wood, with a sharpened end or an attached metal point. They often broke.

In the 1950s, a streamlined aluminium javelin was designed, enabling greater distances to be thrown. By the early 1980s, the aerodynamics had improved and the centre of gravity had to be modified to reduce distance!

Javelins have three parts: a head, a shaft and a cord grip at the javelinsÂ’ centre of gravity. (Place a ruler across your finger and where it balances is its centre of gravity. The shaft is smooth and often made of metal. The head is usually steel and tapers to a sharp point. The javelin must weigh at least 800 grams for men and 600g for women, and be 260 cm long for men and 220 cm for women. It must also be of specified width at certain points along its length.

For all throwing events, instead of a time-consuming and inaccurate tape measure, an Electronic Distance Measurement EDM) measures the distance from the throwing point to the impact point (of the javelin, for example) using an infra-red beam and reflector respectively.

It calculates the distance travelled using angle measurements, is accurate to within 1 mm, and the result is ready within about 10 seconds.
In shot put, discus and hammer throw, the object must be thrown from within a circle with a diameter of 2.5m for discus and 2.135m for shot put and hammer throw. The ring of the circle is iron, steel or other suitable material and set flush with the ground with concrete or another material filling the centre.
NSIC

In discus and hammer throw, this circle is partly surrounded by a cage for the safety of officials, competitors and spectators. The netting of this enclosure can be made of natural or synthetic fibre cord, or steel wire, provided it can stop a 2 kg discus moving at speeds up to 25 metres/sec, or a 7.26 kg hammer head moving at speeds up to 32 metres/sec, and prevent ricocheting.

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Information Sheet - Field Athletics Equipment

High Jump

Aim and method:

to sprint then leap over a crossbar which is placed at progressively greater heights.Jumps are measured from the ground to the underside of the crossbar.

Equipment:

The rigid crossbar is generally made of lightweight metal. It weighs less than 2kg and rests on metal posts 4m apart.Jumpers now land on a plastic foam cushion, which has replaced the old sand pit!.

Pole Vault

Aim and method:

As with high jump, but athletes attempt to clear the crossbar with the aid of a flexible pole.

Athletes sprint down a runway holding on to one end of the pole then digging the other end into a box or slot in the ground and swinging upward towards the crossbar. Doing a virtual handstand on the pole, they thrust their body facedown across the bar.

Vaults are measured electronically from the ground to the upper side of the crossbar.

Equipment:

Prior to the 1940s, poles were made of wood and bamboo.With bamboo unavailable from Japan during World War II, metal was used.In the 1960s, an idea came from deep-sea fishing rods: lightweight fibreglass was used instead of metal. Fibreglass is a mixture of glass – made from the mineral quartz - and resin.

Then in 1995, fibreglass with carbon was introduced.Poles are generally 4 – 5 metres long and weigh approximately 3.6 kg.Prior to World War II, the crossbar was made of steel. It is now constructed of fibreglass.

Long Jump

Aim and Method:

to sprint along a runway and leap forward as far as possible into a sand pit.Distance is measured from the front edge of the take-off board to the closest mark in the sand made by the jumper.

Equipment:

At the ancient Games, jumpers held dumb-bell shaped lead or stone weights called halteres to increase their momentum and jump further. These are not allowed in the modern Olympics.

In the past. measuring tapes were used, but today Electronic Distance Measurements (EDMs) use an infra-red beam at the take-off board and a reflector at the athleteÂ’s landing point to more accurately measure the distance jumped. Judges look at plasticine imprints to check if the jumper has over-stepped the take-off.

Triple Jump

Aim and Method:

to sprint along a runway and using a hop, a step and a jump, propel oneself forward into a sand pit. The athlete first uses the hop (taking off and landing on the same foot) then the step (taking off and landing on different feet) then the jump, landing on both feet.

Equipment:

Distances are measured as for the long jump.

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Athletes as Coaches

Many athletes report that after years of being coached and competing in a given sport, they feel that they have a grasp of the fundamentals of the sport and feel that they might be able to teach that sport to other athletes. Sometimes they become assistant coaches, sometimes they just become the athlete who the coach knows he or she can call on to demonstrate a skill.

After years of participating in the same sports, many athletes report that they are looking for new activities and challenges. Allowing athletes the option to formally move into coaching gives them an opportunity to continue their involvement with Special Olympics in new and challenging ways.

Athletes as coaches, such as Fan Gin-Chia (Michael) of Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, also provide a new source of reliable volunteers to help expand Program offerings in sports that the athletes are most interested in.

How can athletes as coaches help a Special Olympics Program?

When communities and other athletes see Special Olympics athletes stepping up to assistant coach and head coach roles, they see our movement as inclusive and cutting edge. When athletes see an opportunity to grow and take on new roles, it keeps them from getting bored and dropping out of Special Olympics.

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Cycling

Have you ever ridden a bike? Maybe you own one. While the bicycle is used by millions of people around the world as a means of transport, it is also used for recreation, or in sports such as triathlons, track cycling, BMX or mountain bike competitions. Cycling is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and one of the toughest events at the Olympic Games. Cyclists must have incredible levels of fitness and stamina.

There are three types of competition for cycling at the Olympic Games - track (in an arena or velodrome), road and mountain bike.

Races include pursuits, time trials, and sprints.

In order to show the world the beauty and attractions of Athens, the 2004 Olympic Games will begin with a cycling event - the men's road race. Cyclists will take 3 - 4 hours to complete the course through the streets of Athens.

Cycling is a sport that attracts as much interest in the state-of-the-art bikes as the athletes. Spectators are sometimes kept waiting until the last minute to know what sort of high-tech bike the riders will use.

The following information will help you find out more about bikes in general and racing bikes such as those that will be used in the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Minerals and metals are essential to the making of a bike, especially a really fast one. Most of the materials used in the bike first started out as rocks in the ground. These rocks contain minerals that can be mined, then processed into metals. Bikes are made up mostly of metals and carbon fibre as you will soon find out!

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Tips for Treatment of Athletic Injuries

For active people, participating in exercise or athletic events can often result in minor musculoskeletal injuries. The following is a list of things which should be done soon after an injury occurs. The guidelines are based on the acronym R.I.C.E., which stands for Rest, Ice Compression, and Elevation.

Rest - Rest is very important for allowing musculoskeletal injuries to heal. Immobilization of an injury allows the body's healing processes to occur without complication. This will help to ensure the most efficient recovery period.

Ice - Cold, primarily ice in different forms, is an excellent first aid agent. It helps to reduce swelling, decrease pain, and ease muscle spasm. Ice should be applied for approximately 20 minutes every hour or hour and a half following an injury. This protocol should be followed for 2-3 days or until pain and swelling subsides.

Compression - Compression is another effective tool for treatment of new injuries. Elastic wraps and tapes provide uniform compression to injured areas, helping to minimize inflammation. Compression should be maintained throughout the day, with intermittent cold applications.

Elevation - Elevation can also aid the healing process by reducing swelling and increasing venous return of injured cells. The injured area should be elevated above the level of the heart, especially during ice and compression applications.

Many injuries that, at first, seem too minor can sometimes become more involved. If pain, swelling and other symptoms are not improving, it is important to consult your physician. Any injury which results in severe pain, deformity, or joint instability, should be examined immediately by a health care professional.

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Athletic Gear: Shoes / Footwear

One of the most fundamental parts of any set of athletic gear is the footwear – shoes, sandals, skates (inline and ice), and so on. Without good athletic footwear, people's performance will suffer and injuries might even result. Athletic shoes aren't just for playing competitive sports – just about any physical activity that needs you to use your feet often (e.g. hiking) will need athletic footwear.

Regardless of your activity of choice, you should consider a few things when choosing which athletic shoes to buy. Your comfort holds topnotch priority – there’s no use wearing a certain shoe if you don't feel good using it. Remember, an expensive or stylish athletic shoe does not necessarily equate to comfort, so choose wisely.

Second thing you'll need to think about is the shoe's durability. Of course, if you're buying shoes of a reputable and established brand, more often than not you can rest easy with the quality. Inspect the material first, and if possible, question the salesperson as to the expected life of the product.

Many people shop online nowadays, and a pair of shoes is a popular item on their carts. However, it's still advisable to shop in person and see the shoes for yourself, so you can spot defects and give them a 'test walk'.

In our introductory article we said that arguably, athletic shoes have made it to casual attire more than any other type of athletic gear. If you plan to wear your athletic footwear this way, choose the shoes that have a good balance between style and overall 'athletic-readiness'. When we say 'athletic-readiness', we mean the combination of comfort, durability, and other factors that might come to your mind from the point of view of an athlete.

If you're a basketball shoe enthusiast, then you're quite a lucky person because most basketball shoes nowadays make for great casual attire pieces. Amongst all other athletic shoes, basketball footwear embody the fusion of style, design, and athletic performance. But if you go for performance above anything else, then you should scout for shoes that carry some of the following adjectives: lightweight, 'breath-ability' (ventilation), responsive, support, cushioned, grip, traction, and shock absorption, among others.

Whether you are a track athlete or a leisure jogger, then it goes without saying that running shoes are vital to your life. Most shoe manufacturers divide running shoes into three categories – cushioning, motion control, and stability. The last one is a balance between cushioning and motion control.

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Athletic Gear: Athletic Apparel

Athletic apparel is any type of athletic gear that is worn on any part of the body. These pieces of clothing are specially designed to meet the demands of the different sports they are suitable for, whether it's flexibility, insulation, waterproofing, insect bites, high-friction surfaces, or anything else.

In the athletic world, form follows function, and as you will see, most characteristics of each type of clothing follow the purpose of the garment itself.

Of course, every sport in its infant stage will have used a generic set of clothing, one that is available to the public, to later evolve into something that is custom-fit for that particular activity. Today, we have a wide spectrum of shapes, fabrics, textures, and cuts that overlap and intersect among different types of sports. Some of these clothes have even moved out of the gym and into people's daily attire: casual, preppy, dressy, formal, ultrachic, hip-hop, mixed, matched, and more. Certain patterns and colors are associated with different types of sports; they are also used to distinguish between different teams playing in a league along with team logos and team names.

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