The Soviet Critique of Sport and Physical Culture

Abstract

The Soviet critique of sport and physical culture has a Marxist-Leninist basis and emphasizes the utilitarian functions of physical culture within the overall social superstructure. One of its distinguishing features is an ongoing polemic with bourgeoise interpretations of sport and physical culture. Soviet scholars maintain that physical culture developed out of man's conscious desire to train himself for military and labor activity. One of the weaknesses of Soviet scholarship is its failure to examine closely the playful aspects of physical culture. Recent structuralist studies provide a basis for analyzing competitive sport's many complex roles, particularly its spectacular ones. The greatest strengths of the Soviet critique of sport and physical culture are its demonstration of the social character of sport and its stress on the role of sport and physical culture in personality development.