This section of our web guide focuses on multisport races, competitions, or events.
Multisport events, which include competitions featuring multiple sports, have a long history and continue to captivate audiences throughout the world. These events range from ancient festivals to modern spectacles like the Olympics, triathlons, and track and field events.
The concept of multisport events goes back to ancient times. One of the earliest multisport festivals was the Tailteann Games in Ireland, which began in 1829 BC. These games included several athletic competitions and were held in honor of the deceased Queen Tailtiu.
In Ancient Greece, the Panhellenic Games were a series of four major festivals, including the Olympic Games, the Pythian Games, the Nemean Games, and the Isthmian Games. The most famous of these, the Olympic Games, began in 776 BC and features events like running, wrestling, and chariot racing.
The Roman Games were another significant early multisport event, including chariot racing, wrestling, and gladiatorial combat.
The Middle Ages saw the emergence of multisport festivals like the Cotswold Olimpick Games in England and the Highland Games in Scotland.
The beginning of the modern era of multisport events included the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896. The International Olympic Committee organized the first modern Olympics in Athens, Greece, which featured forty-three events across nine sports. The Olympics have since grown to become the world's largest and most prestigious multisport event, held every four years, with both Summer and Winter editions.
The success of the Olympics has inspired the creation of other multisport events, such as the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, the Pan American Games, and the Mediterranean Games.
In addition to large-scale events like the Olympics, multisport races, such as triathlons, have become very popular. Typically, a triathlon consists of swimming, cycling, and running segments, testing the endurance and versatility of competing athletes. The first modern triathlon was held in San Diego, California, in 1974 and has grown to include events like the Ironman Triathlon, which features 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling, and a 26.2-mile marathon.
The U.S. military. has three military multisports: the Aeronautical Pentathlon, which consists of shooting, fencing, orienteering, basketball skills, an obstacle course, and swimming; the Military Pentathlon, which features shooting, an obstacle running course, obstacle swimming, throwing, and cross-country running; and the Naval Pentathlon, which is made up of an obstacle course, a life-saving swimming race, a utility swimming race, a seamanship race, and an amphibious cross-country race.
Other multisport races include duathlons (running and cycling), aquathlons (swimming and running), aquabiking (swimming and cycling), and adventure races, which often incorporate additional disciplines like kayaking and climbing. Quadrathlons add kayaking to the traditional triathlon disciplines, making it swimming, kayaking, cycling, and running.
Today, the Olympic Games are popular events every four years. Additionally, the Youth Olympic Games, providing a platform for young athletes to compete in various sports and gain international experience, were established in 2010.
Multisport events tailored to specific communities are also popular. For example, the Maccabiah Games are for Jewish athletes, the Francophone Games are for French-speaking nations, and the World Outgames are for the LGBTQ+ community.
Local or regional communities and non-profit organizations often sponsor triathlons or similar games as fundraising events or to bring people to the community, supporting local businesses.
Track and field is another sport that consists of multiple disciplines, including pole vaulting, shot putting, hammer throwing, broad jumping, relay races, sprints, and long-distance races.
Multisport events are appropriate topics for this portion of our web guide. However, retail sales websites should be listed in the corresponding Shopping & eCommerce category.
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Recommended Resources
The CPC is a non-profit organization that supports Canadian Paralympic athletes and promotes inclusivity through sport. Created in 1981 as the Canadian Federation of Sport Organizations for the Disabled, the CPC represents Paralympic athletes in the International Paralympic Committee and the Parapan-American Games. The CPC also raises funds to provide more opportunities for Canadians with disabilities to be active and succeed on the world stage. Its athletes and sports are featured.
https://paralympic.ca/
CSC plays a significant role in promoting and supporting sports within the Commonwealth framework. Canada has a legacy with the Commonwealth Games, having hosted the first-ever games in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1930. Canada is one of only six countries to have participated in each of the Commonwealth Games since their inception. The organization is involved in various programs, including the Capacity Support Programme, and aims to inspire and unite Canadians through sport.
https://commonwealthsport.ca/
Organized as the Commonwealth Games Federation in 1932, Commonwealth Sport is the international organization responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, as well as the governing body of the Commonwealth Games Associations. Headquartered in Longdon, England, its governance, executive board, committees, foundation, and contacts are posted on the site, along with upcoming games, photographs, videos, statistics, and participating nations.
https://www.commonwealthsport.com/
Launched in 2012, the European Games are a continental multi-sport event in the Olympic tradition, in which athletes from European nations and several transcontinental countries participate. An introduction to the Games is provided, including the participating countries, venues, mascots, and schedules, along with results, ticket information, sponsors and sponsorship opportunities, its organizational structure, boards and commissions, media resources, and contact data.
https://european-games.org/
Georgia Multisports Productions
GMP LLC is an event management company specializing in triathlons. Its mission is to promote fitness and provide the most competitive events for multisport athletes in Georgia and the Southeast. A list of events produced by GMP in the last year, along with race categories, a calendar of events, and an overview of its services, clinics, tri-club program, and contacts, is posted. Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, along with its Ambassador program, are also posted.
https://www.gamultisports.com/
Headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Triathlon Canada is the national organization dedicated to promoting excellence in the sport of triathlon. The organization supports athletes aiming for the Olympic and Paralympic podiums, provides resources for athletes at all levels, and organizes various events, including national championships and development series. Its athletes, teams, coaches, and officials, along with membership data and contacts, are featured.
https://www.triathloncanada.com/
Triathlon Ontario is the governing body for the sport of triathlon in Ontario, Canada. The organization promotes safe and fair multisport events, including triathlons, duathlons, and aquathlons. They support athletes, coaches, clubs, and race directors to ensure the growth and development of the sport in the province and organize various programs and events, including the Provincial Development Program, which provides swim analysis and other training opportunities.
https://www.triathlonontario.com/
Founded in 1989 as the International Triathlon Union, World Triathlon is the international governing body for the multisport disciplines of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, and other non-standard variations. The International Olympic Committee recognizes it as the international federation for the sport of triathlon and its derivatives. Events, athletes, multimedia resources, and the organization's organizational structure, brand resources, and contacts are featured.
https://www.triathlon.org/
