ResourcesNo.52
January 2008
 
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Book Review
John F. Coghlan

 

Sport in Developing Countries
by Robert Chappell.
Published in 2007 by International Sports Publications. (235 pp., £19.50).
In 1978, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) published its International Charter of Physical Education and Sport. Article 1 stated that ‘Every human being has a fundamental right of access to physical education and sport, which are essential for the full development of his personality’. This echoed Article 1 in the Sport for All Charter of the Council of Europe (1976). The International Council for Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) and the IOC were asked by UNESCO to play a major role in developing the 1978 Charter.
Robert Chappell, a member of the ICSSPE Working Group on Sport and Developing Countries, has now researched and published a detailed and critical analysis of how a range of developing countries have responded to the aspirations of the UNESCO Charter. He has travelled widely to see how sport and physical education is being promoted in a range of countries. In doing so, he has met those involved politically and directly at the highest level and at grass roots. Visits have not been fleeting, but rather lengthy stays were undertaken in order to get ‘the feel’ of what he was seeing and hearing. The result is Sport in Developing Countries.
This is a book I have been waiting for for many years as I was directly involved at the start of the major initiative by UNESCO nearly thirty years ago. Every reader will have a view on what has been achieved and all will agree that more needs to be done to help. Domestically, I am happy that UK Sport has for some time been involved in offering assistance.
Chappell paints a clear picture of the scene ‘out there’ and the broad issues and problems that abound. His critical analysis of each of the countries examined shows that whilst there are common problems, each country is different. His conclusion (p.225) shows where he stands overall; it is a compelling challenge to the developed world to do more to help those in developing countries to move forward.
This book deserves success and wide distribution. I hope its will encourage others to follow on reporting the way sport and physical education is being promoted or neglected in developing countries. It may help more international sports organisations and more wealthy countries to become involved. The gap between developed and developing countries in the field of sport and physical education is widening. It needs to be narrowing. This book is essential reading for those undergraduates and post-graduate students of sports development, international sport, comparative studies and/or international politics.


Contact
John F. Coghlan, M.B.E.
Formerly Deputy-Director, The Sports Council and
Head of International Affairs and Secretary-General ICSSPE
Berkshire, United Kingdom




http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5