The Social Dimension of Sports Depicted in the Statements of the Participants in the Conference Organized by the State Office of Physical Education and Military (17–19 December 1929)

Abstract

The social dimension of sports in the interwar period included both physical education and competitive sport itself – activities which promptly were placed in the center of interest of the Polish Army of the reborn Polish Commonwealth, as they were to serve both improving athleticism and health of the society (both women and men), and at the same time increase the defense potential of the country. This strategy was implemented in multiple countries – such an approach of the heads of the states was characteristic for this period. It is a fact that Józef Pilsudski’s having seized control of the country allowed the military to monopolize the authority over issues concerned with preparing the society for potential war. Moreover, it influenced the dynamization of works in the area. The State Office of Physical Education and Military, created in 1927 to coordinate the common physical education and military preparation, was playing a major role in this aspect. After a dozen of months of functioning, it had been established that the introduced changes needed to be evaluated, which became a major topic at a special conference taking place in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and The Headquarters of The Polish Riflemen's Association. The conclusions drawn at the conference were to introduce improvements to the current solutions in the areas of physical education, premilitary training and sports.