Competitive sport is today about winning and training to win. Many athletes are professionals, with careers managed by teams of specialist staff working towards the ultimate goal of world-class, medal-winning performances.

This entry-level text offers new students a comprehensive introduction to the phenomenon of the pursuit of excellence in sport, covering the key issues and talking points including:

• the history and tradition of sporting excellence
• comparisons of elite high-performance sport programmes in Australia, the USA, East Germany and France
• the historical, social, political and economic impacts of sporting excellence in the UK
• current issues and debates, including drugs in sport
• the future for high-performance sport.

With a clear framework for understanding and exploring key issues, questions for discussion, websites and suggestions for further reading, In Pursuit of Excellence is an ideal introduction for AS, A Level and undergradute students.

This book gives a fascinating history of the English experience of sport, following its development through the centuries from its earliest beginnings in social play and pastimes, via its adoption as an alternative to the clock-watching routine of urban life, to its modern incarnation as a global business.

Key themes and issues in the evolution of sport are examined, including:

• social structures, such as the division between amateurs and professionals
• the growth of the popular press and the influence of television
• the post-war emergence of sports a ~welfarisma (TM) and a ~sport for alla (TM)
• globalization and commercialization.

Looking ahead to the future, the author asks whether our sports experience is turning full circle, and if in the twenty-first century we are returning to a forgotten view of sport as a pastime and recreation.

This book gives a fascinating history of the English experience of sport, following its development through the centuries from its earliest beginnings in social play and pastimes, via its adoption as an alternative to the clock-watching routine of urban life, to its modern incarnation as a global business.

Key themes and issues in the evolution of sport are examined, including:

• social structures, such as the division between amateurs and professionals
• the growth of the popular press and the influence of television
• the post-war emergence of sports a ~welfarisma (TM) and a ~sport for alla (TM)
• globalization and commercialization.

Looking ahead to the future, the author asks whether our sports experience is turning full circle, and if in the twenty-first century we are returning to a forgotten view of sport as a pastime and recreation.

This user-friendly, accessible text will enable new students to understand the basic concepts of sport skills acquisition. Each chapter covers important theoretical background and shows how this theory can be applied through practical examples from the world of sport. The book also examines the ways in which skills can be developed most effectively and addresses issues such as: characteristics and classifications of abilities and skills in sport information processing in sport motor programmes and motor control phases of learning presentation of skills and practices. A valuable resource for students and teachers in physical education, sport studies and sports science courses as well as for coaches who want to develop their theoretical knowledge.

Acquiring Skills in Sport is an easy-to-follow textbook designed to help in developing an understanding of the basic concepts related to the acquisition of motor skills in sport. Each chapter covers the relevant research and applies it to practical sports examples. The book also examines the technical terms that are used in skill acquisition and covers the subject by dealing initially with skills and then the theories related to the learning of those skills. Finally, it examines the ways in which skills can be taught to those who wish to learn and/or improve them. It addresses issues such as: Characteristics and classifications of abilities and skills in sport Information processing in sport Motor programmes and motor control Phases of learning Presentation of skills and practices Acquiring Skills in Sport will be a valuable resource for students and teachers in physical education, sport studies and sports science courses as well as for coaches who want to develop an understanding that will allow them to follow the theoretical elements of coaching courses.

An awesome festival of sporting excellence and competition, the Olympic Games have now evolved into a major international event with great cultural, political, economic and social importance.

The Olympic Games Explained is an introductory guide to the history and meaning of the four-yearly phenomenon that is the modern Olympic Games. The book provides a comprehensive overview of 'Olympism' from its Ancient Greek origins through the beginnings of the International Olympic Committee to the global Olympic Movement in the twenty-first century.

Each chapter offers a range of study tasks and review questions to help students develop their understanding of key concepts in Olympic studies.

The Olympic Games Explained represents a comprehensive introduction to the central themes and background of the modern Games. This includes a consideration of ancient games, the modern revival at the end of the 19th Century and the progressive development of the Games throughout the 20th Century. The text considers a range of topics including: - The Ancient Olympics - The Media and the Olympics - Olympic Marketing and Sponsorship This Multidisciplinary text will seek to incorporate the theme of Olympism into other subject areas such as geography, history, art, media and business studies and draws specifically from the rich historical contribution of Britain to the Olympic movement. In order to enhance students learning experiences, the book will be complemented by a dedicated website offering access to unique archive and other document sources. this book aims to bring to its audience the best Olympic educational expertise available.

Competitive sport is today about winning and training to win. Many athletes are professionals, with careers managed by teams of specialist staff working towards the ultimate goal of world-class, medal-winning performances.

This entry-level text offers new students a comprehensive introduction to the phenomenon of the pursuit of excellence in sport, covering the key issues and talking points including:

• the history and tradition of sporting excellence
• comparisons of elite high-performance sport programmes in Australia, the USA, East Germany and France
• the historical, social, political and economic impacts of sporting excellence in the UK
• current issues and debates, including drugs in sport
• the future for high-performance sport.

With a clear framework for understanding and exploring key issues, questions for discussion, websites and suggestions for further reading, In Pursuit of Excellence is an ideal introduction for AS, A Level and undergradute students.