Climbing has obviously had a long history. Nevertheless, competition climbing only started in the 1960s with speed events in the former USSR, continuing in the 1980s with difficulty events in other parts of Europe, and in 1989 with the first ever Climbing World Cup.

Today's climbing competitions are held in three different disciplines: in Bouldering , where athletes conquer the greatest number of obstacles without rope, in Lead, where athletes seek to climb highest on the wall, and finally in Speed, where the fastest climber is declared the winner.

More than 70 countries organize regular climbing competitions on walls specially erected in large arenas with thousands of spectators.

The relatively young sport has not only added to the popularity of climbing walls everywhere, it has greatly improved rock climbing standards too.

Competition climbing champions have set new and stunning world records in Yosemite National Park, USA, climbing the almost 900 meters of El Capitan's nose in under three hours, a climb which took several days in the past.

sport rules link: