Track and field at the Games — a quadrennial traffic mountain. This page has 100 important questions and answers.
Athletics at the Olympics is track, field, and road events under World Athletics rules: sprints, hurdles, middle and long distance, relays, jumps, throws, combined events, and race walks / marathon. The next Summer Games after Paris 2024 are Los Angeles 2028.
A national trial is not the Olympic final. Qualifying standards and world rankings decide who gets a lane.
100 important questions. Quick 10 is a random set; Full set plays every question.
Your score
100 questions and answers
Each item is a 4-option MCQ. Open a question, tap A–D. Green is correct, red is wrong. Original explainers — not copied match reports.
1. Heats exist because
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) too many athletes enter for one final
Fastest losers can still advance in some events.
2. The javelin, discus, and shot are
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) throwing events
Implements and run-ups differ.
3. High jump and pole vault use
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) a bar and a failure count
Three misses at a height can end the day.
4. Olympic medals in athletics are
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) gold, silver, bronze for that event
A small country can still top an event.
5. The programme can include
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) mixed relays when the IOC/WA put them on the timetable
The PDF lists what is on that Games.
6. Who writes the technical rules?
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) World Athletics, applied at the Games
The IOC stages the festival.
7. OlyA extra 1: A heats-to-finals path is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) how sprints and many track events work
Lanes and times qualify.
8. OlyA extra 2: The Olympic village is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) athlete housing, not the stadium
Accreditation gets you in.
9. OlyA extra 3: A national Olympic committee picks
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) who wears the kit, under World Athletics qualifying rules
Standards and rankings both exist.
10. OlyA extra 4: Race walk is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) an Olympic athletics event with a flight phase rule
Judges watch knees.
11. OlyA extra 5: The Olympics athletics programme is not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the World Indoor Championships
Indoors is a different meet.
12. OlyA extra 6: A false start in Olympic sprints
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) usually puts that athlete out under current one-and-done rules
The field stays.
13. OlyA extra 7: Combined events are
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) heptathlon and decathlon at the Games
Points tables, not just one time.
14. OlyA extra 8: A national record at the Games is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) possible and celebrated — the Olympic record is a separate list
Three lists: NR, OR, WR.
15. OlyA extra 9: Relays need
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) a baton in the zone
DQs are common in heats.
16. OlyA extra 10: Los Angeles 2028 is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the next Summer Games after Paris 2024
Athletics will be on the programme.
17. OlyA extra 11: A repechage, when added, is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) a second-chance heat some events now use
World Athletics has been experimenting.
18. OlyA extra 12: Throws need
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) a legal sector and a legal circle/run-up
Fouls wipe the mark.
19. OlyA extra 13: Olympic athletics is not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the Diamond League final by itself
Same stars, different vest.
20. OlyA extra 14: A world record in the final is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) ratified later if the wind, drug tests, and facilities pass
Wind over +2.0 m/s kills a 100 m WR.
21. OlyA extra 15: The mixed 4×400 is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) an Olympic relay with two men and two women
Order rules are picky.
22. OlyA extra 16: Closing the stadium roof, when a venue has one, is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) a weather and TV choice, not a different sport
Times still count if legal.
23. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 1) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
24. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 2) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
25. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 3) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
26. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 4) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
27. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 5) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
28. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 6) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
29. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 7) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
30. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 8) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
31. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 9) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
32. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 10) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
33. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 11) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
34. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 12) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
35. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 13) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
36. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 14) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
37. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 15) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
38. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 16) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
39. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 17) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
40. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 18) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
41. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 19) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
42. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 20) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
43. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 21) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
44. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 22) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
45. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 23) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
46. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 24) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
47. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 25) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
48. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 26) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
49. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 27) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
50. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 28) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
51. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 29) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
52. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 30) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
53. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 31) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
54. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 32) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
55. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 33) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
56. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 34) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
57. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 35) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
58. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 36) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
59. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 37) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
60. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 38) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
61. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 39) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
62. The official source for “olympic athletics” (games desk, item 40) is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the authority or standard named on this page’s explainer
GKSchools English practice is original — not an official script.
63. Olympic athletics includes
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) track, field, and road events
The marathon is a road event on the programme.
64. The sport’s international body is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) World Athletics
It was IAAF in older articles.
65. A typical sprint programme includes
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m
Hurdles and relays sit beside them.
66. Combined events are
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) heptathlon (women’s traditional) and decathlon (men’s traditional)
Points tables score each event.
67. An Olympic Games athletics programme is not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the Diamond League final by itself
Diamond League is the annual tour.
68. A qualifying standard
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) is a time, height, or distance that earns a quota place (with ranking routes too)
Federations still pick the team.
69. False starts in sprints
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) can eliminate an athlete under current rules after the warning system
One false start disqualifies in the modern individual rule.
70. LA 2028 is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) a forthcoming Summer Olympic host
Paris 2024 was the previous Summer Games.
71. The sport's international body is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) World Athletics
It was IAAF in older articles.
72. An Olympic athletics programme is not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the Diamond League final by itself
Diamond League is the annual tour.
73. Relays are
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) team events with baton passes
A drop can end the heat.
74. Field events include
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) jumps and throws
Long jump, shot, javelin sit here.
75. Race walks are
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) Olympic athletics events with technique rules
Judges watch the flight phase.
76. A national trial is not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the Olympic final
The Games final is in the host city.
77. Heats, semis, and finals are
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) how many track events progress
Lanes are drawn from times.
78. The Olympic programme is not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) every Diamond League event list copied blindly
Some events appear only at Worlds or the tour.
79. A quota place belongs to
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) the National Olympic Committee, which then names the athlete
Federations still have to confirm.
80. Hurdle races add
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) barriers at set heights and spacings
110 m hurdles is the men's sprint-hurdle classic.
81. The decathlon is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: D) ten events over two days for men in the traditional programme
Points from WA tables add up.
82. The heptathlon is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) seven events over two days for women in the traditional programme
The combined-event tables differ by gender historically.
83. A protest about a lane call is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) a World Athletics / Games jury process
Photo finish and umpires differ by event.
84. Olympic athletics is not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) the World Athletics Championships as the same meet
Worlds are a different championship.
85. Road events at the Games include
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the marathon and race walks when programmed
Courses use city streets.
86. A world record at the Olympics still
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) must meet WA wind, drug, and facility rules
The same record book as other meets.
87. Lane 4 talk in sprints is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) a draw advantage myth more than a law
Times still decide.
88. The athletics stadium is often
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) the ceremonial heart of the Summer Games
Opening and closing can share the venue.
89. Entry standards plus rankings exist so
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) fields stay at a planned size
NOCs still pick.
90. A relay change-over must happen
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) inside the zone
A miss is a DQ.
91. Throws have
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) a circle or runway and a sector
Steps on the line can foul.
92. The Olympics are not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) an annual Diamond League meeting
Athletics is one sport on the programme.
93. Wind gauges sit on
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) sprints and horizontal jumps for legal marks
Road races do not use the +2.0 sprint rule the same way.
94. A photo finish in a track final
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) separates athletes when the eye cannot
The torso is the usual rule detail.
95. Combined-event athletes
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) score points, not a single race time as the title
The last event can still flip the medals.
96. Olympic village life is not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) a qualifying standard
Marks still have to be run on the track.
97. The next Summer Games after Paris 2024 are
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: C) Los Angeles 2028
Winter Games are a different cycle.
98. Steeplechase adds
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) barriers and a water jump
It is a track distance event.
99. A national record at the Games is
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: B) a federation mark, not automatically a world record
WA keeps the global list.
100. Athletics at the Olympics is not
Tap A, B, C or D.
Answer: A) football's Olympic tournament as the same sport
