Men competed in 24 events and women in 23, as their schedule lacked the 50 km race walk.

In five events, including the inaugural women's 3000 m steeplechase, the world record was broken.

The athletics was, alongside the Olympic cycling events, one of the few large sports programmes in which the host nation fared comparatively poorly in terms of medals won.

The country's foremost athlete Liu Xiang, the 2004 Olympic champion in the 110 metres hurdles, had to withdraw after a false start due to injury.

[1] *   Host nation (China)* Athletes who participated in the heats only and received medals.