At the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, 36 athletics events were contested – 18 for boys and 18 for girls – on 17–19 and 21–23 August 2010.

The steeplechase was held over 2000 m, instead of the seniors' 3000 m distance, and the competition featured a medley relay with legs of 100 m, 200 m, 300 m and 400 m (in the Swedish style).

[5] In 2023 Luguelín Santos was suspended by World Athletics on charges of age falsification early in his career.

From results achieved in round 1, athletes were placed in A, B or C (or additional) finals, in accordance with procedures determined by the event delegate.

Ties were resolved in favour of the athlete with the best individual result in either final.