Take Your Mark... Trivia Quiz

Answer: Baton

The relay baton is a smooth, hollow tube made of metal or wood, with Aluminium being the most commonly used metal due to its lightness and resilience. There are strict rules concerning the batons used in official Olympic competition. These batons must measure 28 to 30 centimetres in length and have a circumference of 12 to 13 centimetres. The official weight of the baton must not be less than 50 grams.

Some races, particularly in amateur meets, use flags instead of batons but they must never be attached to sticks due to the high risk of injury.

Answer: Anchor

Traditionally the second fastest racer participates in the first leg of a relay with the fastest person taking the role in the final leg. This is very important as they are able to consolidate the team's lead (if they are leading) or catch up to other teams if they are not.

The fastest racer will occasionally lead off in the first leg if they are trying for a time record, as only this leg is eligible for the record. This rarely happens in the final race of an event but is more likely to happen in the heats where placings are more important than times.

Answer: 1960 Rome

The medley relay is swum by four different swimmers each swimming a different stroke. Traditionally the order is backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. Backstroke is completed first as it is the only stroke which begins already in the water. The other strokes are then swum according to speed.

The USA won both the men's and women's inaugural events in Rome, with Australia in second place behind them.

Answer: Norway

The Holmenkollstafetten is an annual relay race organised through the streets of Oslo, from Bislett Stadion to Holmenkoll and back. The race has 15 different legs, all of varying lengths. Some are short legs on a running track while others are long legs on steep hills.

Answer: Biathlon

Four biathletes per team each participate in a 7.5 kilometre race over three laps (6km for women) interspersed with four shooting rounds, two prone and two standing. A valid changeover in biathlon relay consists of a skier touching the leg of the next participant.
Mixed relays consist of two men and two women per team with the women racing first.

Answer: The Mean Machine

Controversy reigned at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games when Australian swimmers Neil Brooks, Greg Fasala, Michael Delany and Graeme Brewer became the first swimmers in Australian history to shave their heads. The bald quartet was immediately dubbed "The Mean Machine".

The Dream Team is the US Men's basketball team while the 'A Team' is a television series which aired from 1983 to 1987. The Oarsome Foursome was the Australian coxless fours rowing crew who won two Olympic gold medals between 1990 and 1998.

Answer: 1064 km

The Prince Takamatsu Cup was first held in 1951 and has been an annual event since. The race begins at Nagasaki and continues through several cities before ending in Fukuota some 1064 km later.

The race pays homage to his Imperial Highness Prince Takamatsu of Japan (1905-1987). He was a patron of various organizations in the realms of international cultural exchange, arts, sports, and medicine.

Answer: Running out of sequence

During a relay race, the entire team may be disqualified by the actions of one of the members. Rules vary by race, so contestants need to review the rules carefully. After handing over the baton, the person who has relinquished control may not leave his designated lane until all current runner are clear as this may prevent the other runner from passing.

The exchange zone is the designated area on the track where the baton MUST be passed from one team member to the next. If the exchange does not take place within this area, the team will be disqualified for improper baton exchange. This rule is waived for junior athletes competing in Under 10 years so they may learn how to pass the baton without the pressure of disqualification.

Some races allow a dropped baton to be retrieved, but some will disqualify the racers. If the baton is allowed to be retrieved, it must be picked up by the person who dropped it. Usually though, so much time is lost through losing the baton that it is impossible to catch up.

Answer: Shuttle relay

Shuttle relays are specially adapted to suit large groups of people in a limited space. Each team is divided into two divisions which line up facing each other, odd numbers at one end and even numbers at the other. Batons are not traditionally used in these races, with runners touching the outstretched hand of the successive racer. Occasionally flags will be used in place of batons but these are generally not on sticks due to the risk of injury to players.

Answer: Cycling

There are various cycling races, called time-trials, sprints and pursuits. Longer races on open streets as opposed to the velodrome are road races. The most famous road race is the prestigious multi-leg Tour de France. Pursuit races have an individual or team of riders chasing each other for the fastest time around a Velodrome track.