Rock climbing is an activity in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal of rock climbing is to reach the top of a formation or the endpoint of a predefined route without falling. Rock climbing competitions have 1) ___________ of completing the route in the quickest possible time or reaching the 2) _____________ point along an ever increasingly harder route. While not an Olympic event, rock climbing is 3) _____________ by the International Olympic Committee as a sport. Rock climbing has been 4) ______________ several different styles and subdisciplines. At its most basic, rock climbing 5)______________ climbing a route with one’s own hands and feet and little more than a cushioned bouldering pad for protection. This style of climbing 6) _______________ as bouldering, since the relevant routes are usually found on boulders no more than 10 to 15 feet tall. As routes get higher off the ground, the increased risk of 7)______________ injuries makes additional safety measures necessary. Climbers will usually work in pairs and use a system of ropes and anchors 8) ___________ to catch fallers. Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport that tests a climber’s strength, 9) _____________, and balance along with their mental control. It can be a dangerous sport and climbers are 10) _____when they go climbing. However, the risk can be reduced by having the knowledge of proper climbing techniques and using specialized climbing equipment.