Athletics (British Sports Library)

CHAPTER IX JAVELIN THROWING JAVELIN throwing is a sport which ·· has rapidly risen to popularity in Great Britain since it was first introduced to us by Scandinavian athletes at the London Olympiad in 1908. More recently, throwing with a ,weapon of lighter weight and shorter length, the sport has been taken up keenly at some of our public and secondary schools. The javelin is a spear of wood with a sharp iron or steel point. It is constructed in such a way that the centre of gravity is not longer than I· 230 yards nor shorter than 2 · 953 feet in rear of the foremost point of the steel head. About the centre of gravity there is bound a whipcord grip, 6· 3 inches broad, and not exceeding the circumference of the .shaft by more than 0 · 984 inch. The length of the full– sized weapon is not less than 8l feet and the weight not less than 1· 6 lb. Lighter and shorter weapons are made for the use of youths. In throwing, the javelin must be gripped at the whipc.ord binding. lH