In games, athletics comprises a wide range of events and demand a variety of skills. We know that some competitions are made up of a number of events mainly related to athletics.
Decathlon is one such men’s competition lasting for two consecutive days in which contestants take part in 10 track and field events. It was first introduced as a three day event at Olympic Games of 1912.
The Decathlon events are divided in two consecutive days – the first day events include 100 metre running, long jump, short put, high jump and 400 metre running. The second day events consist of 100 metre hurdles; discuss throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1500 metre run. Competitors are scored for their performance in each event according to a table prescribed by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF). The table has been changed several times to keep pace with the improvements of world records. For instance, first change was effective from 1912 to 1936 while decathlon was still a three day event, the second one from 1936 to 1950 (with minor revision in 1952). The third change was from 1952 to 1964. In the latest change, the table was introduced in such a fashion that favoured an athlete who could score evenly in all 10 events. The events are held in the listed set order. A competitor is considered to have withdrawn from the competition of he fails to take part in any of the listed events.
The order of competing is drawn before each event. The IAAF rules are generally applied for each event although exceptions are there like participants are allowed only three trails in each field event and that three false starts in a track event result in elimination without points from that particular event. Points are awarded for achieving set times, heights and distances. In case of a tie, the competitor with most points in the majority of events wins.
If the tie still exists, the person with most points in any one event wins. Similarly the seven combined events for women’s are called Heptathlon.