2nd World Summit on Physical Education

Magglingen, Switzerland, 2-3 Dec 2005

The 2nd World Summit on Physical Education was successfully held in Magglingen, Switzerland, on Dec. 2-3, 2005 under the leadership of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE/CIEPSS) and the Swiss Federal Office of Sport (BASPO).

It took place under the Patronage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was also supported by the United Nations Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Mr. Adolf Ogi, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The first World Summit on Physical Education (Berlin, 3-5 Nov. 1999) stood at the beginning of a broad international debate on the current state of physical education world-wide, which included not only its sometimes precarious situation within educational systems, but also its contents, objectives and role in the context of increasing public health and social problems.

In Magglingen, participants reviewed the status of physical education today, following presentations and subsequent analysis of positive and negative developments since 1999. A reflection on the intrinsic role of physical education in education, and its potential to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), based on current research results took place during the plenary sessions and workshops, where other important topics were discussed, such as:

the development of quality standards and benchmarks for physical education which are based on scientific evidence and contribute particularly to personal and social development;

the development of effective and modular strategies to secure and further develop physical education as an essential component of education;

and the integration of high-quality and culturally sensitive physical education policies world-wide into education and sports policies.

More than 150 decision-makers and researchers from the areas of science, politics, sports, and education (members and partners of ICSSPE, relevant/responsible ministries, specialised organisations, media, sport federations, UN-agencies, NGOs) representing nearly 40 countries attended the 2nd World Summit on Physical Education, making it a truly international forum for exchange and debate.

In order to prepare the Summit, a Steering Committee for the 2nd World Summit on Physical Education was set up as follows: Prof. Dr. Karen P. DePauw (ICSSPE), Prof. Dr. Maria Dinold (Chair ICSP), Prof. Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper (ICSSPE President), Mr. Christophe Mailliet (ICSSPE Executive Director), Mr. Walter Mengisen (BASPO), Prof. Dr. Margaret Talbot (ICSSPE Vice-President "Education").

The Expert Committee, which was actively involved both in the preparations for the 2nd World Summit on Physical Education, as well as in the Summit itself, was composed of the following distinguished individuals: Prof. Dr. Chantal Amade Escot (France), Prof. Dr. Lateef O. Amusa (Nigeria), Prof. Dr. Richard Bailey (United Kingdom), Prof. Dr. Wolf-Dietrich Brettschneider (Germany), Prof. Dr. Ming-Kai Chin (Hong Kong, China), Prof. Dr. Karel J. van Deventer (South Africa), Prof. Dr. Ronald S. Feingold (United States of America), Prof. Dr. Kenneth Hardman (United Kingdom), Prof. Dr. Uwe Pühse (Switzerland), Prof. Dr. Manoel José Gomes Tubino (Brazil).

At the end of the 2nd World Summit on Physical Education, the participants adopted the Magglingen Commitment for Physical Education. This document highlights the need for implementation of recommendations and declarations made at previous conferences and meetings, but also provides new directions for the future of physical education. This document will serve ad the basis for the future strategy of ICSSPE, its partners and members to further develop physical education world-wide, and we encourage its distribution and diffusion by any available means.

Please contact the ICSSPE Office for further information about the 2nd World Summit on Physical Education and any other requests: icsspe@icsspe.org.