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Bulletin 65 Pdf

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| Foreword | No.65 October 2013 |

President`s Message
Margaret Talbot

This ICSSPE Bulletin, which focuses on the concept of physical literacy and its promotion through physical education and programmes of physical activity and sport, is an excellent example of the power of ICSSPE’s international networks and the depth of academic and practitioner expertise which is provided by its membership. The thinking and debate on physical literacy has progressed significantly during the last 5-10 years, with the Editor of this Bulletin, Dr Margaret Whitehead leading conferences and symposia across the world. ICSSPE is indebted to her and to her co-Editor, Dr Symeon Dagkas, for their hard work in assembling such a rich collection of contributions. It is regrettable, as Margaret remarks in her Introduction, that the collection lacks coverage of the importance of physical literacy for persons with a disability – and ICSSPE invites practitioners and researchers working in this area, to come forward to fill that gap. It is also hoped that this Bulletin will further stimulate debate and discussion of physical literacy.

At the time of writing, ICSSPE is participating in the preparation of UNESCO’s Guidelines for Policy Makers in Physical Education, and its associated Toolkit, which should be available early in 2014. This development is welcome, following as it does, ICSSPE’s International Committee of Sport Pedagogy agreeing International Benchmarks for Physical Education, which are designed to enable governments and system leaders to evaluate their own systems and plan measures to address weaknesses and build on strengths. It is vital that any advice offered at international level accommodates the huge variation in infrastructure across different countries, and the challenges faced by those rebuilding their education systems after strife, disaster or crisis.

This was evident from the interventions by Ministers and Senior Officials during the MINEPS V Conference in Berlin in May 2013. The Conference agenda and consequent Declaration of Berlin were enhanced and enriched by the excellent scientific and advocacy contributions from ICSSPE members – and the Conference itself provided a unique example of the value of collaboration between UNESCO, government organisations – in this case, the Federal Ministry of the Interior of Germany - and NGOs – in this case, with conference organisation and scientific input led by ICSSPE. ICSSPE is now assisting UNESCO in regional meetings to help to follow up the recommendations in the Declaration of Berlin.

Partnership has been a recurrent and powerful element in ICSSPE activities during the year following ICSEMIS 2012. Perhaps the most pleasing development has been the many and varied invitations ICSSPE and its officers have received to participate in events and programmes which aim to promote physical activity for health. This has helped to progress ICSSPE’s strategic priority “Healthy Living Across the Lifespan”. Ten years ago, organisations representing physical activity were routinely excluded from health promotion fora. In 2013, ICSSPE has developed important partnerships with Nike and the American College of Sport Medicine, in co-authoring and promoting “Designed To Move”; with “Excellence in Paediatrics” and the PEARL Summit (Promote Energy Balance, Active and Real Living); with the Hellenic Nutrition Foundation; and with Generation Europe, to produce a healthy lifestyles planner for thousands of European school students; and most recently with TAFISA, to establish a Global Coalition for an Active World.

Beyond the health promotion field, too, new partnerships have been forged: examples include development of a shared resource on values education through sport, with WADA, IOC, IPC, UNESCO and International Fair Play; and a contribution on monitoring and evaluation for Peace and Sport. ICSSPE members and partners have provided venues and events to support ICSSPE meetings, notably Barry University Miami, for the meeting of the Editorial Board; Tianjin University of Sport and the All China Sports Federation, for the ICSSPE Statutory meetings and Conference on Quality Physical Education; and the National Association of Sport and Physical Education India and Shree Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak Mandal, Amravati, for the first meeting of the newly-elected President’s Committee and Global Conference on Traditional Cultures, Sport and Games. ICSSPE values its ongoing partnerships with publishers, especially Human Kinetics Publishers, for the 2014 Directory of Sport Science, now available on-line for all ICSSPE members; and Routledge, for the “Perspectives” book series, which has increased both distribution and quality. ICSSPE has agreed to become a Strategic Partner of the International Working Group on Women and Sport, for its 2014 Conference in Helsinki in June 2014; and will hold its Statutory meetings there, hosted by the Finnish Society of Sport Sciences.

ICSSPE has reviewed and developed its three strategic priorities – Quality Physical Education; Healthy Living Across the Life Span; and Ethics and the Integrity of Sport – each now with ICSSPE member organisations leading their development and activities, and with potential seed funding to support their work. Planning has begun for ICSEMIS 2016 in Brazil. ICSSPE member organisations, as in 2012, will be vital contributors and beneficiaries of this unique multi-disciplinary Convention. ICSSPE looks forward to further development during 2014; and invites all members to play an active part in ICSSPE events, programmes and publications.

Professor Margaret Talbot, PhD OBE FRSA
President

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