|  | Foreword | No.58 January 2010 |
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President’s Message |

Dear ICSSPE Member,
During the last weeks, we have all been disturbed and shocked by the terrible events in Haiti, as its people struggle to manage their lives and futures, following the catastrophic earthquake. While sport at first sight seems irrelevant in the wake of such a destructive event, the evidence from monitoring schemes which have used sport to reconstruct children’s confidence and people’s communities, shows that where there is skilled leadership and clear purpose, such schemes can make significant contributions to positive futures.
ICSSPE’s response, following the Tsunami in 2004, in collaboration with the International Red Cross and other partners, has led to international seminars on the role of sport in post-disaster relief in successive years since, the most recent in Rheinsberg in October last year. It has also resulted in a “policy community” of people who have been involved in such work, with regular contact and communication between them; and hence, the capacity to learn from each other. The International Olympic Committee has recognised the potential of this work, by inviting ICSSPE to participate in a Working Group on sport for development and peace, whose first meeting will take place in May this year. This is another sign of the esteem in which non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are held, in managing to serve groups of people, and to provide relief, where governments are less successful or effective. It is also a sign of recognition of the value of robust evidence and data, in making the case for government or other funding to support such work.
As a scientific and educational organisation, ICSSPE has access to a wealth of experience and expertise among its membership. ICSSPE’s challenge is to be aware of which member organisations can provide specific knowledge and skills, accurately, quickly and efficiently. The excellent response from ICSSPE member organisations in physical education to Professor Ken Hardman’s world-wide surveys on the state and status of physical education, is a case in point. This has not only added to knowledge; it has provided a robust basis for advocacy to advance the position of physical education, in different parts of the world.
In the coming year, the ICSSPE President’s Committee will be considering ways in which ICSSPE can work with other international NGOs and governments, to advance the strategic objectives which lead its work:

- quality physical education;
- ethics and professionalization; and
- healthy living across the lifespan.

During the early part of 2010, we will be meeting colleagues in the United Nations and UNESCO, the International Red Cross, the World Health Organisation and the International Olympic Committee, to discuss the potential benefits for ongoing and new partnerships and collaborative work. ICSSPE is, for example, especially concerned that national and international agencies in public health appear to invest too little in prevention of chronic diseases through physical activity. Similarly, ICSSPE continues to support calls for commitment to curriculum time and well-qualified teachers for physical education in schools, using the evidence of its contributions to educational achievement, health promotion and sport development.
While international NGOs like ICSSPE and its members can provide access to support, advocacy and research evidence, effective intervention has to take place at the level at which political decisions and decisions about investment are made, whether national, provincial/state, or local level. One of the challenges therefore, will be to ensure clear strategic direction, and good quality communication between ICSSPE member organisations at these different levels. With coordination and shared purpose, they can be much more effective.
These issues will be central to discussion at the ICSSPE round of meetings in Cuba in July 2010, at which the opportunities and challenges of digital publishing will also be on the agenda. We hope for high attendance and active engagement with this important agenda.
Professor Dr Margaret Talbot, PhD OBE FRSA
President ICSSPE

http://www.icsspe.org