Olympism, physical education and critical pedagogy

Abstract

This article sets out to present a new imagery for capturing the power and potential of Olympism in attempting to educate the next generation of sport consumers and decision makers. It is hoped that the new imagery can make a contribution on how to moderate and regulate the rampant commodification of sport. This new imagery begins with the need for physical educators to open their minds and instigate a critical orientation to thinking about sport and Olympic matters. It is argued that doing this might help in the creation of new possibilities and visions for Olympism and sport and allow us to confront some of the disagreeable contemporary concerns in sport that scholars have identified. The new imagery for Olympism is based on the development of a critical pedagogy that draws on the works of Apple, Freire and Kincheloe, and is re-contextualised for school physical education and sports programmes. It is concluded that decisions, behaviours and actions that are made at present actually propagate many of the policies that will be made tomorrow. It is argued that a critical pedagogy for Olympism is needed to address the many current disagreeable aspects of sport.