Olympic Education ─ An International Review

A fundamental component of the ‘Olympic ideal’ is the concept of ‘Olympic education’. This is the notion that sport can help children and young people develop essential life skills; that the development of motor abilities, social behaviour and a moral sense are vital parts of a balanced education and can be developed through the teaching of sport and Olympic values. This is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey and analysis of the diffusion, implementation and delivery of these important Olympic education programmes around the world.

The book includes national case studies of countries on every major continent, including the US, the UK, China, Japan, Australia, Brazil and Germany. Each chapter examines the cultural, pedagogical, political and societal challenges of teaching Olympic education and the national, individual and institutional programmes that have emerged. The book explores key practical and conceptual issues, such as the incorporation of Olympic values in PE curricula, coach education programmes and the coaching of sports, and the structure and collaborative efforts of the governmental bodies, sport federations and Olympic institutions responsible for policy and implementation. This is important reading for all students, researchers and professionals with an interest in physical education, sport education, sports coaching, sport policy or Olympic studies.

Roland Naul teaches social sciences of children and youth sports, sport pedagogy and Olympic education at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. He also heads the Willibald-Gebhardt Research Institute that conducts international studies in Olympism, education and sports. His main research areas are European and Olympic studies in physical education, children and youth sport activities.