Track-and-field relay race is one of the most popular sports

The relay race is a borrowed word, coming from the French language. Initially, this term denoted a special messenger (messenger) with an urgent message, later - horse mail. That is, something was relayed from a distance, and they did it as quickly as possible.

The essence of the relay race

Later in the sport this "something" became a baton if the competitions were held in stadiums. In some other kinds of relay, the medal was transferred, or the ribbon. The essence of these team games is to get to the finish line first. An indispensable condition is to either transfer something from hand to hand to the next participant, or touch something - the side of the pool or just an athlete. Relays include different kinds of sports - biathlon and orienteering, speed skating and swimming. And, of course, athletics relay race. In addition, the term itself is used to refer to sociopolitical and sports amateur activities. Relays of different kinds enjoy popular love, they are spectacular and popular. Therefore, some of their types were gradually introduced into the program of the Olympic Games: 1900 - swimming, 1908 - track and field athletics in general and athletics relay in particular. In 1936, ski races were introduced.

Levels of athletics relay races

In addition to the Olympic Games, all sports competitions are divided according to their importance - championships, cup competitions and championships. The task they have is to identify the winner and fix his result. They are held annually or once every two years. There are levels of competition - the highest, the first, the second and the third. In addition, there are basic, qualifying, classification, discharge, qualifying and several other levels of competition. There are separate or specific competitions dedicated to some event or date - Victory Day, Runner Day and so on.

The main document for the relay race

Track-and-field relay race, along with mass or festive races, is held very often. It is organized by schools, institutes and enterprises. Holding sports events of this type is based on the general "Regulations on track and field relay", which is the main law of the competition. He is guided by the panel of judges. As relay races are held often, and some of them are of a specific shade, each of them takes an individual position on the conduct, in which changes, additions and amendments are made, agreed by the organizers of the event with the representatives of the teams and the main panel of judges. This is done to ensure that the track-and-field relay race is legitimate, and its results (records, if any) will be recorded. If the competitions are serious, everything is done according to the regulations on this track-and-field relay race.

The initial documents are sent to the authorities, taking into account the time necessary to prepare the teams. In the developed position everything is envisaged, even any small thing - goals and tasks, place and time, leadership and participants, team composition and rewarding, the program of competitions and so on. There should not be any double meaning in the text of the provision.

City relay is what?

The city athletics relay race has its own characteristics of holding. For example, it is held on the streets of the city with all the ensuing consequences - stopping the transport, etc., as a relay of the Olympic flame, or only the city residents will participate in this sporting event, and the races will be held at the stadiums.

Traditional track and field athletics relay is divided into several types. These include:

A) sprint distances;

B) for medium distances;

C) Swedish or mixed;

D) equiden.

What are they different?

Types of athletics relay race

"Sprint" have their subspecies - the number of participants is always 4, and the distances are different - for 100, 200 and 400 meters for each athlete. There are summer and winter sprint races, male and female, held in the stadium and in the premises. All of them are stipulated in international documents. Sprint distances - this kind of track and field athletics relay is included in the program of the Summer Olympic Games, for men since 1912, and for women - since 1972. Much rarer, but with the fixation of world records, athletics relay races are held at medium distances - 4x800 and 4x1600 meters.

Mixed relay races therefore are called, that they have different distances, for example, 200 + 100 + 100 + 400. The additional name "Swedish" such relay race was due to the fact that it was held in Stockholm for a long time at the Grand Prix series. Running along the highway for long (marathon or similar) distances, which are divided into segments with a length of 3 to 12 kilometers, is called equiden.

During the relay, athletes should not leave the corridor allocated to them or use some tricks. For this, any of them can be disqualified. If a participant loses a wand, he can raise it and run further, it will only affect the time.

The baton is always standard - 30 cm long, weight 50 grams.