In Olympic Education in Russia, author Vladimir Rodichenko argues for Olympic educational programs. The creation of a Russian Olympic educational program was motivated by Rule 28 of the Olympic Charter, which called for the creation of an Olympic education system. More importantly, Rodichenko posits, was the drive to create a socio-pedagogical paradigm that introduced children to the human ideals and moral and cultural values associated with the Olympic Movement. In his account of the Russian Olympic educational program, Rodichenko discusses the Russian model of Olympic education, the development of an Olympic textbook, and the creation of the 12 Russian Olympic Academies. He also offers insight into concepts of Olympism in Russia.
In the first two chapters of Olympic Education in Russia, Rodichenko describes how the Russian Olympic educational program came about and how Olympic education was introduced in the Russian school system. He explains how physical education was “enriched” by Olympic education in Russian schools. Olympic education became part of the theory of physical education taught in Russian schools.
An integral part of the development of the Russian Olympic educational program was the creation of an Olympic textbook, which was used as teaching aid in Russian schools. Rodichenko offers a brief historical account of the development of the first 15 editions of the Olympic textbook and how its content structure has changed through the years.
Finally, Rodichenko explains the importance of the 12 Russian Olympic Academies and the role they play in the greater scheme of the Russian Olympic education system. He briefly underscores the importance of Olympism as a popular social movement in Russia and details how Russian scholars have contributed to promoting the Olympic Movement through research and service.
Olympic Education in Russia offers interesting insights into the Russian Olympic education system. The book is a good read for those interested in how Olympic education was instituted and structured in Russia. In addition, it can be used as supplementary reading in an Olympism course.
Author: Vladimir Rodichenko
Published in 2005 by Fizkultura i Sport Publishing House: Moscow, Russia.
(39 pages, ISBN 5-278-00789-3).
ISBN: 0-8108-5893-2
