One of the sport’s throwing events, athletes throw a metal disc weighing 2kg for men (22cm in diameter) and 1kg (18cm in diameter) for women, as far as possible while remaining inside a 2.5-metre diameter circle.

In order for the throw to be measured, the discus must land inside a marked sector and the athlete must not leave the circle before it has landed, and then only from the rear half of the circle. 

The thrower typically takes one-and-a-half spins before releasing the discus. Athletes will typically throw six times per competition. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the athlete with the next-best effort. 

A discus thrower requires strength, speed, balance and explosive power. At major championships the format is typically a qualification session followed by a final.

Another of the throws events, athletes throw a metal ball (7.26kg/16lb for men, 4kg/8.8lb for women) that is attached to a grip by a steel wire no longer than 1.22m while remaining inside a 2.135m (seven-foot) diameter circle.

In order for the throw to be measured, the ball must land inside a marked 35-degree sector and the athlete must not leave the circle before it has landed, and then only from the rear half of the circle. 

The thrower usually makes three or four spins before releasing the ball. Athletes will commonly throw six times per competition. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the athlete with the next-best effort. 

Quality hammer throwers require speed, strength, explosive power and co-ordination. At major championships the format is typically a qualification session followed by a final.

One of two field events also referred to as vertical jumps, competitors in the high jump take off (unaided) from one foot over a four-metre long horizontal bar. They seek to clear the greatest height without knocking the bar to the ground. Athletes land on a crash mat.

All competitors have three attempts per height, although they can elect to ‘pass’, i.e. advance to a greater height despite not having cleared the current one. Three consecutive failures at the same height, or combination of heights, leads to elimination.

If competitors are tied on the same height, the winner is the one with fewest failures at that height. If competitors are still tied, the winner will have had the fewest failures across the entire competition. Thereafter, a jump-off will decide the winner. The jump-off will start at the next greater height. Each jumper has one attempt and the bar is lowered and raised until one jumper succeeds at one height.

The event demands speed, explosive power and agility among other qualities. At major championships the format is usually a qualification competition followed by a final.

A throwing event in which athletes throw a metal-tipped javelin as far as possible. It requires a combination of strength, power, timing, co-ordination precision and timing.

The athlete must hold the javelin by its corded grip with his or her little finger closest to the tip of the implement. 

The men’s javelin must weigh at least 800g and be 2.6m-2.7m long while the women’s javelin must weigh 600g and be 2.2m-2.3m long. 

For the throw to be measured, the athlete must not turn his or her back to the landing area at any stage during their approach and throw; they must throw the javelin over the upper part of their throwing arm, and they must not cross the foul line, aka scratch line, at any time. The javelin must also land tip first and within the marked 29-degree sector. 

If the tip touches the ground first, the throw is measured from this point. Athletes will commonly throw three or six times per competition. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the athlete with the next-best effort. At major championships the format is typically a qualification session followed by a final.

Known as one of track and field’s two horizontal jumps, competitors sprint along a runway and jump as far as possible into a sandpit from a wooden take-off board. The distance travelled, from the edge of the board to the closest indentation in the sand to it, is then measured.

A foul is committed – and the jump is not measured – if an athlete steps beyond the board.

Most championship competitions involve six jumps per competitor, although a number of them, those with the shorter marks, are often eliminated after three jumps. If competitors are tied, the athlete with the next best distance is declared the winner. 

The event requires speed, explosive power, strength and agility. At major championships the format is usually a qualification session followed by a final.

A field event and one of the two vertical jumps (the other being high jump), the pole vault is the sport's high-adrenaline discipline.

Competitors vault over a 4.5-metre long horizontal bar by sprinting along a runway and jamming a pole (usually made out of carbon fibre or fibreglass) against a ‘stop board’ at the back of a recessed metal ‘box’ sited centrally at the base of the uprights. They seek to clear the greatest height without knocking the bar to the ground.

All competitors have three attempts per height, although they can elect to ‘pass’, i.e. advance to a greater height despite not having cleared the current one. Three consecutive failures at the same height, or combination of heights, cause a competitor’s elimination.

If competitors are tied on the same height, the winner will have had the fewest failures at that height. If competitors are still tied, the winner will have had the fewest failures across the entire competition. Thereafter, a jump-off will decide the winner. Each jumper has one attempt and the bar is lowered and raised until one jumper succeeds at one height.

The event demands speed, power, strength, agility and gymnastic skills. At major championships the format is usually a qualification competition followed by a final.

Race walking will take place at the 2023 World Championships over both 20 kilometres and 35km for men and women.

The long-distance events are notably different from the running races as athletes must keep one foot on the ground at all times.

To make sure this rule is maintained, judges carefully monitor each of the walkers throughout the race.

If a third violation is recorded,  a walker is removed from the race by being shown a red card.

The running events are an essential part of any World Athletics Championships and cover distances ranging from 100 metes to the marathon.

Every event other than the marathon - which is staged throughout the host city's streets - takes place on a track which is 400m in circumference. 

The sprint events are the 100m and 200m which see the world's quickest athletes take part.

There are middle-distance races over 800m and 1500m and long distance races over 5,000m and 10,000m.

All of the events, with the exception of the 10,000m and the marathon, feature heats and qualification leading up to the final.

One of the four traditional throws events in track and field. The shot, a metal ball (7.26kg/16lb for men, 4kg/8.8lb for women), is put – not thrown – with one hand. The aim is to put it as far as possible from a seven-foot diameter (2.135m) circle that has a curved 10-centimetre high toe-board at the front.

In order for the put to be measured, the shot must not drop below the line of the athlete’s shoulders at any stage of the put and must land inside a designated 35-degree sector. The athlete, meanwhile, must not touch the top of the toe-board during their put or leave the circle before the ball has landed, and then only from the rear half of the circle. The results order is determined by distance.

Athletes will commonly throw six times per competition. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the athlete with the next-best effort. A shot putter requires strength, speed, balance and explosive power. At major championships the format is typically a qualification session followed by a final.

The steeplechase is a long-distance race on the track which takes place at the World Championships over 3,000 metres for both men and women.

It takes its name from the steeplechase races in horse racing.

Steeplechases are notably different to regular long-distance running races as athletes must negotiate 28 barriers and five water jumps.

The barriers or hurdles, which are often painted black and white, are 36 inches high for men and 30 inches high for women.

Water jumps are either placed inside the turn, shortening the lap, or outside the turn, lengthening the lap.

They consist of a barrier followed by a pit of water which is 12 foot in size, with a slope which means the water is deeper by the barrier.

Men and women both have two hurdles events at the World Athletics Championships.

The men compete in the 110 metre hurdles and the 400m hurdles, and women race over 100m and 400m.

All races feature 10 hurdles on the track, which are 36 inches high for men and 30 inches high for women.

The hurdles fall easily if touched with athletes beginning with a staggered start in the 400m.