Historical Dictionary of Track and Field

Peter Matthews

mar 2012 · Scarecrow Press

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While the earliest evidence of organized running can be traced back to Egypt in 3800 BCE, the modern sport of track and field evolved from rural games and church and folk festivals, and rules were drawn up in the final quarter of the 19th century in those advanced societies where enough people had the leisure time to indulge their fancies. Today, in addition to the running events, track and field includes such events as the high jump, pole vault, long jump, shot, discus, javelin, hammer, and decathlon.

The Historical Dictionary of Track and Field covers the history of this sport through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 500 cross-referenced entries on key figures, places, competitions, and governing bodies within the sport. This book is an excellent access point for researchers, students, and anyone wanting to know more about the history of track and field.

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Peter Matthews is a world-renowned expert on track and field athletics. He has been an athletics broadcaster on TV and radio for more than 35 years, working primarily for BBC Radio 1975-85, ITV 1985-97, and for the IAAF from 1991. He has covered nearly all the major meetings in Great Britain and worldwide over the past 40 years. He has been a leading public address announcer since 1968, and he was Media Information Manager for Track and Field Athletics at the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996 and worked at his seventh Olympics for the Sydney Organizing Committee in 2000.