The Demise of Olympic Sports on a Collegiate Level May Have Roots in the Abandonment of Physical Education Requirements

By Brent Rutemiller

PHOENIX, Arizona, December 12. PERHAPS we are witnessing the evolution of our society's values that started decades ago when many grade schools and high schools dropped Physical Education as a required class. That may have been the line of demarcation. Once that line was crossed, we accepted this cultural shift and required sports to stand on their own.

Now, decades later, Universities have evolved into two separate institutions; academic and athletic. It should be no surprise that some athletic departments are required to stand on their own. The fact that Olympics sports are being dropped for financial reasons on collegiate campuses is the by-product of this evolution.

The dropping of Olympic sports, and in particular Men's Swimming, is just a symptom of this long discourse where "Sound Body – Sound Mind" was once a core value.

I realize that this is a very simplistic point of view, but in it is the catalyst for monumental change and opportunity. I think the argument should be made that it is imperative that Olympic Sports with their core values and lifelong benefits be integrated back into ALL levels of education as THE fundamental issue.

The opportunity is in uniting all the Olympic governing bodies, their executive directors, coaching associations, and sporting media to encourage federal legislation mandating that Olympic Sport opportunities become a fundamental part of the educational process including elementary, high school and collegiate schools that receive federal funds.

The mandate is one that requires no funding. It just simply requires that schools integrate with Olympic Sporting Clubs in their area or NCAA to offer or retain sporting opportunities for their student population. (What the mandate requires, is a topic for additional discussion.) The point is that the USOC, the executive directors of each national governing body, coaching associations and sporting media do have the power to move this issue on Capital Hill.

It is my feeling that this is a noble cause that will attract many other associations that would also like to see the return of physical education to the schools. Those that truly believe that the epidemic of childhood obesity, diabetes, hyper-activity and delinquency can all be traced to the lack of physical education in schools will jump on the bandwagon.

In addition, if the national governing bodies join in a concerted effort to further this issue, they would gain tremendously from the exposure. We all have seen the power of sweeping federal legislation in the No Child Left Behind legislation. Perhaps it is time for "Leave No Child's Behind Behind"… (Sorry couldn't resist a little humor)

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