Health and Safety G*n* M*d!

Just read on another athletics website about the coach who saw that the local schools 100 metres hurdles championship was won in 11.6 seconds. Being quite excited he contacted the organisers to ask if the race had been run over 80 metres instead of 100 to be told that it had been run over 100 metres, but the hurdles had been lowered for health and safety reasons in case any of the athletes fell and injured himself. He was subsequently informed that it had been reduced to 80 metres and the hurdles had been reduced!

I have a vision of lightweight shot being used in future plus maybe an elastic bar for the high jump in competition. Whatever happened to the old events like heading the shot and catching the javelin? Or the old English sports of cudgelling (fighting with sticks) and shin kicking, which were genuine sports events!