Sport, Physical Education Recreation Culture in Argentina. (A topic for collective reflection Permanent)

It seems questionable whether some sports, recreational and physical education provide positive values ​​for the lives of people. So it may be a truism to say that sport, recreation and physical education are inseparable part of culture, in this case the culture of Argentina. And it could be said that these issues are almost out of the question and even reflection. It seems that beyond the exceptions that prove the rule, here we do a lot of sport, recreation and much much physical education, without getting to think much about the motivations and personalizing sense of such activities.

The rapidly increasing emergence of knowledge technologies and information, realize that enable academic and research activities on these issues is increasing in many parts of the planet, and is also seen in embryonic form, in Argentina, begin to appear evidence of that concern. But we know, attentive to the lessons that give us the disciplines of Social and Cultural Anthropology, which innovations are not automatically accepted, massively, in the vital influence or "cultural continuun" of countries, regions or cities. If we approach this problem in sport, physical education and recreation in Argentina, we must be taking some situations. One is that we should consider the complex of sports, recreation and physical education as integrated at least conceptually. This is an important point, because they can often detect different conceptual treatments, which result in different tasks. Something similar seems when it comes to point to the inescindibilidad of this complex with the culture of Argentina. It seems that in some cases there is a divorce between sport, recreation and physical education with other cultural activities in Argentina. These "divorce" in light of crisis and scarce resources, may qualify, at least as signs of inefficiency and inequity.

If this trial is a negative value, therefore, we support the need for a comprehensive approach to the dimension of sport, recreation and physical education in the Argentine cultural development. But to avoid falling into confusion, we use the term approach, which only implies an academic or intellectual application of the term, which could lead to understand that we postulate a homogenizer treatment, which attentive to pluralism characteristic of Argentina, consider the totalitarian or collectivist bias, Another aspect that we want to point out that much more important that public policies that apply to the promotion and encouragement of the activities discussed are the specific activities of the people, who are last that will inform this aspect of culture. In this statement, is implied, a relativization of public policy in making its impact on the activities we are discussing. From the foregoing, we believe (flip any opinion), which seems more viable influence on the activities that concern us, since the specific circumstances of time and place, where we are. This means that from the entities of the public good first degree, particularly our beloved social and sports clubs, such as educational institutions, particularly basic education facilities and polymodal, and subsidiary of township assistance, you can deploy a specific task that meets the needs of as many stakeholders and beneficiaries.

All this means that decentralization or devolution, is the mode of operation suggested. And this decentralization or devolution operation, does not necessarily mean that certain activities may exist unity of conception or criterion. We have seen in recent years, the existence of policy criteria for the sector or strip in question, too influenced by criteria coined in earlier stages. This should not surprise us, attentive to the sedimentation that occurs in the development of any culture. What happens is that one thing is the ingredient or practices incorporated into both are vital influence policy criteria, which may reveal mismatches. In other words, they often hear and read reviews on sports policy. And this relates to the work of public authorities on the subject. But in Argentina, from December 1983, prevailing republican and representative system, with federal autonomy (provincial), municipalities and universities. This means that the current sports policy would be the result of the business of the national government, the work of the 23 provinces and the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, the work of the approximately 1700 municipalities and the task, specific means, of the approximately of 37 national universities.

No need to mention that the specific task of the various structures of the Executive Branch, and at least weak evidence coordination, I can one infer that when it comes to sports policy, is not actually refer to this resulting jurisdictional. Without prejudice to imagine how complex that it is achieving some kind of interagency coordination, yet the action on the daily life of leisure. sports and physical education of the population, or specific cultural dimension is relatively low. This scenario, in a context of growing escaseses and shortcomings, rather than being discouraged, should be, given the positive values ​​Insite, a stimulating invitation to formalize public policy criteria are not sectoral, but the philosophy and methodology in sports, Physical Education and Recreation, to report both official and public activities. In other words, it would be on the side of uniform criteria and not by the law authorities or shops, which would achieve a rationalization that ultimately more people would suggest that for the longest amount of time, can benefit from sports practices, sports and physical education. I think it would make a substantive contribution to the gap, since 1967, was created by the existence of separate government structures (especially at the provincial level) on one side of sports and physical education on the other.

It makes us that much can be done about the Federal Council of Culture and Education. Linking sports club, school and municipal level, we can think of high value, in order to optimize scarce resources. It is known to exist methodologies that show were conceived in times of plenty. So the travel and stay expenses that benefit tourism businesses, transportation, hotels and restaurants, subtracting resources that could be applied to items and sportswear. The sporting phenomenon in late 1999, allows the sponsorship and marketing, to take charge of both the high performance sports such as professional sports. This would suggest a release of resources to be applied creatively about the most vulnerable sectors of the population. On those wanting to do sport, they can not do or they do so precarious. Consider that there are about eleven million people enrolled in school and through the Educational Outreach Program, may receive funding for sporting, recreational and physical education. Clearly, considerations how are you, will not be shared by those who have been won by the "pre-existing status quo," but we consider these considerations satisfied if meditation awaken to see how far they are likely to be implemented or not in specific areas where we perform.

After all the "center of the world," is where everyone is and from there through appropriate technology, "homemade" and re-emphasize creative, you can make to sport, recreation and physical education to perform the function social, for which are proving a high potential. Buenos Aires, Friday, December 3, 1999

PUBLISHED IN "WORLD AMATEUR", NUM. 126, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA DIC. 1999