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JAVELIN

MEANING AND DEFINITION

A javelin is a light spear  designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon, but today

 predominantly for sport. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand, unlike the  bow and arrow and slingshot, 

which shoot projectiles from a mechanism. However, hurling devices do exist to assist the javelin thrower in

achieving greater distance.

The word javeline comes from Middle English and it derives from Old French  javelin, a diminutive of  javelot  

which meant spear. The word  javelot probably originated from one of the Celtic languages. 

SCOPE AND ORIGIN:

During the era between the Mycenaean times and the Roman Empire, the javelin was a commonly used

offensive weapon. Being lighter than the spear, the javelin would be thrown rather than thrust and thus allowed

long distance attacks against one’s enemy. Athletes, however, used javelins that were much lighter than

military ones because the idea of the event was to demonstrate distance rather than penetration. The one major 

difference between the javelin of the ancient games and the javelin of more modern times is a leather thong,

called an ankyle that was wound around the middle of the shaft. Athletes would hold the javelin by the thong

and when the javelin released this thong unwound giving the javelin a spiraled flight.[2] 

The javelin throw has a particularly strong tradition in the Nordic nations of Europe. Of the 69 Olympic medalsthat have been awarded in the men's javelin, 32 have gone to competitors from  Norway, Sweden, or  Finland.[3] 

Finland is the only nation to have ever swept the medals at a currently recognized official Olympics, and has

done so twice, in 1920 and 1932. (However, Sweden swept the first four places at the 1906 Intercalated Games. 

Finland's 1920 sweep also featured an additional fourth place finish. Sweeping the first four places is no longer 

 possible, as only three entrants per country are allowed.) In 1912, Finland also swept the medals in the only

appearance in the Olympics of two-handed javelin, an event in which the implement was separately thrownwith both the right hand and the left hand and the marks were added together. Quite popular in Finland and

Sweden at the time, this event soon faded into obscurity, together with similar variations of the shot and the

discus.

There is archaeological evidence that javelins and throwing sticks were already in use during the last phase of 

the lower Paleolithic. Seven spear-like objects were found in a coal mine in the city of  Schöningen, Germany.

Stratigraphic dating indicates that the weapons are about 400,000 years old. The excavated items were made of 

spruce (Picea) trunk and were between 1.83 and 2.25 metres long. They were manufactured with the maximum

thickness and weight situated at the front end of the wooden shaft. The frontal centre of gravity suggests that

these  pole weapons were used as javelins. A fossilized horse shoulder blade with a projectile wound, dated to

500,000 years ago,was revealed in a gravel quarry in the village of  Boxgrove, England. Studies revealed thatthe wound was probably caused by a javelin.[1][2][3] 

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RULE AND REGULATION

The size, shape, minimum weight,and center of gravity of the javelin are all defined by IAAF rules. In

international competition, men throw a javelin between 2.6 and 2.7 m (8 ft 6 in and 8 ft 10 in) in length and

800 g (28 oz) in weight, and women throw a javelin between 2.2 and 2.3 m (7 ft 3 in and 7 ft 7 in) in length and

600 g (21 oz) in weight. The javelin has a grip, about 150 mm (5.9 in) wide, made of cord and located at the

 javelin's center of gravity (0.9 to 1.06 m (2 ft 10 in to 3 ft 6 in) from the javelin tip for the men's javelin and

0.8 to 0.92 m (2 ft 7 in to 3 ft 0.2 in) from the javelin tip for the women's javelin).

Unlike the other throwing events (shotput, discus, and hammer ), the technique used to throw the javelin is

dictated by IAAF rules and "non-orthodox" techniques are not permitted. The javelin must be held at its grip

and thrown overhand, over the athlete's shoulder or upper arm. Further, the athlete is prohibited from turning

completely around such that his back faces the direction of throw. In practice, this prevents athletes from

attempting to spin and hurl the javelin sidearm in the style of a discus throw. Instead of being confined to a

circle, javelin throwers have a runway 4 m (13 ft) wide and at least 30 m (98 ft) in length, ending in a curved

arc from which their throw will be measured; athletes typically use this distance to gain momentum in a "run-

up" to their throw. Like the other throwing events, the competitor may not leave the throwing area (the runway)

until after the implement lands. The need to come to a stop behind the throwing arc limits both how close the

athlete can come to the line before the release as well as the maximum speed achieved at the time of release.

The javelin is thrown towards a "sector" covering an angle of 28.96 degrees extending outwards from the arc at

the end of the runway. A throw is legal only if the tip of the javelin lands within this sector, and the tip strikes

the ground before any other part of the javelin. The distance of the throw is measured from the throwing arc to

the point where the tip of the javelin landed, rounded down to the nearest centimeter.

Competition rules are similar to other throwing events: a round consists of one attempt by each competitor in

turn, and competitions typically consist of three to six rounds. The competitor with the longest single legal

throw (over all rounds) is the winner; in the case of a tie the competitors' second-longest throws are also

considered. Competitions involving large numbers of athletes sometimes use a "cut": all competitors compete

in the first three rounds, but only athletes who are currently among the top eight or have achieved some

minimum distances are permitted to attempt to improve on their distance in additional rounds (typically three).

APPARATUS AND MEASURE

Javelin is a track and field event in which the competitor throws a long metal object, approximately 2.5 meters

in length and in the shape of a spear, the furthest distance possible. A run up is used to build momentum in

order to propel the javelin farther. Javelin is a recognized Olympic event, with Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway

currently holding the record with a long throw of 90.57 meters during the 2008 Olympic Games.

Instructions

  Throw the javelin, and observe the javelin as it travels. Ensure the javelin is thrown from behind thedesignated line. Remain stationary until the javelin has landed in the ground.

  Ensure the field is free from any potential dangers such as other javelin throwers. Get another individual to

stand at the center of the throwing line with the start of the measuring tape. Ensure the measuring tape is

resting on the ground. All measurements shou

  ld be taken from the same point to ensure accurate results.

  Approach the javelin once it has landed. Remove the javelin from the ground and place the measuring tape

over the dent in the ground created by the javelin. The javelin must have landed tip first for the distance to

 be counted.

 Take the measurement from the throwing line to the nearest point created by the dent in the ground.

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