At the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, 27 athletics events were contested.

For the first time, women's events in athletics were included in the Olympic Games program.

During the 1928 Summer Olympic Games 9 new world records were set in the athletics events.

Lithuania and Romania competed in athletics for the first time.

Bulgaria, Egypt, Malta, Panama, Rhodesia, and Uruguay were the only six nations not to compete in athletics.