University and Olympic sports in the context of sociological analysis

The issue of the interaction of Olympic and university sports is a subject of scientific debate and modern publications devoted to this range of problems. This is due to two major and prestigious events in the world of sport - the Olympic Games and World Universiades, which on the one hand attract the attention of millions of spectators, and on the other - are the subject of the fight of politicians and heads of state for the right to host these competitions. Each athlete considers his lifework to participate in these competitions. Enormous economic resources are needed for these events. In order to preserve and enhance the status of the Olympic and the university sports movements in the world one should realize and understand what makes these kinds of sport so attractive to young people and what prevents their further existence and development? The models of development of Olympic and university sports have a number of significant differences, in particular: the purposes and attitudes of athletes. The common features of these models are symbolism, humanistic orientation and social functions. The humanistic potential of Olympic and university sports is in keeping with the philosophical idea of Pierre de Coubertin: of equal and infinite possibilities of sport for improvement of single individual and society in general.

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