Sport, education and culture conferences : a brief history and highlights : sport studies

• Published in: African journal for physical health education, recreation, and dance recreation, and dance, 2012-03, Vol.18 (sup-1), p.288-303
• Main Authors: Paul, Yvonne, Nongogo, Philani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conference; Culture; Education; International Olympic Committee; Olympic movement; Sport
• ISSN: 1117-4315

The aim of this article is to outline the history of the "Sport, Education and Culture Conferences" as organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its strategic partners such as the United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Organizing Committees of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOGs) and sometimes, the respective governments. This article also seeks to highlight the role and impact of these conferences in the work of the Olympic Movement. The IOC has long positioned itself as the supreme sport body that coordinates the Olympic sports policy. In the process, it has managed to marshal the Olympic Movement or otherwise, the International sports Federations (IFs); the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and other Olympic Organizations (such as the Olympic Solidarity, Olympic Truce Commission; the World Anti-Doping Agency etc.), throughout its 118 year-long history. The Olympic Movement and the IOC's partners have a long history of organizing important international gatherings. One of these important gatherings is the "Sport, Education and Culture Conferences". The latter is apparently positioned to strategically deliver the Olympic Movement's mandate as outlined in the Olympic Charter. Critical to this has been the emphasis placed on the combined roles of "Sport", "Education", "Culture" and to some degree, "Environment" in empowering the youth of the world. This article therefore discusses the fifteen-year long history of these conferences; describes the objectives and examine the impact of the past seven editions of the "Sport, Education and Culture World Conferences/Congresses"; with specific focus on the critical role they have played in the work of and in shaping the direction of the Olympic Movement. This review article draws its sources from the IOC documents; the other Olympic Movement related publications and the pertinent scholarly sources.