athletics vs diversion

athletics and diversion both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
athletics	Yes	No	No	No
diversion	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, diversion is a hypernym of athletics; that is, diversion is a word with a broader meaning than athletics:

Other hypernyms of athletics include recreation.

athletics (noun)	diversion (noun)
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition	an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
participation in sports events as an extracurricular activity	a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern)
a contest between athletes	an attack calculated to draw enemy defense away from the point of the principal attack