Jim Parry

Sport science can quantify many aspects of human performance but the spiritual dimensions of sports experience cannot be fully understood through measurement. However, the spiritual experience of sport – be it described as ‘flow’, ‘transcendence’ or the discovery of meaning and value – is central both to our basic motivation to take part in sports, and to achieving success.Sport and Spirituality: An Introduction explores these human aspects of sports experience through the perspectives of sport psychology, philosophy, ethics, theology and religious studies. It includes discussions of:Spirituality in the postmodern eraSpirituality, health and well-beingTheistic and atheistic perspectives on sport and the spiritualNature and transcendence – the mystical and sublime in outdoor sportApplied sport psychology and the existentialSpiritual perspectives on pain, suffering and destinySport, the virtues, ethical development and the spirit of the gameThe Olympic Games and de Coubertin’s ideas of the ‘religio athletae’.This groundbreaking text will be a valuable resource for students of sport and exercise studies, sports coaching, physical education and sport and health psychology. This book should be read by all those interested in the preparation, performance and well-being of athletes.

Sport science can quantify many aspects of human performance but the spiritual dimensions of sports experience cannot be fully understood through measurement. However, the spiritual experience of sport – be it described as ‘flow’, ‘transcendence’ or the discovery of meaning and value – is central both to our basic motivation to take part in sports, and to achieving success.Sport and Spirituality: An Introduction explores these human aspects of sports experience through the perspectives of sport psychology, philosophy, ethics, theology and religious studies. It includes discussions of:Spirituality in the postmodern eraSpirituality, health and well-beingTheistic and atheistic perspectives on sport and the spiritualNature and transcendence – the mystical and sublime in outdoor sportApplied sport psychology and the existentialSpiritual perspectives on pain, suffering and destinySport, the virtues, ethical development and the spirit of the gameThe Olympic Games and de Coubertin’s ideas of the ‘religio athletae’.This groundbreaking text will be a valuable resource for students of sport and exercise studies, sports coaching, physical education and sport and health psychology. This book should be read by all those interested in the preparation, performance and well-being of athletes.

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.

This multidisciplinary text is a comprehensive introduction to the central themes and background of the modern Games.The text considers a range of topics including: the ancient Olympicsthe modern revival of the nineteenth century the development of the Games throughout the twentieth century. the media and the OlympicsOlympic marketing and sponsorship.Complemented by a dedicated website offering access to unique archive and other document sources, this book brings its audience the best Olympic educational expertise available.