HUN Agoston Dosek: Ski sport and environment
LECTURE
Agoston Dosek: Ski sport and environment
Human activity has always left traces on the environment. These traces, the results of human civilization, have been mostly evaluated as positive. Although human beings are still relatively defenseless in nature, human intervention is endangering the future of our planet.
The ski sport and ski business are evaluated by green movements as a large impact on the Earth!
Civilization has accelerated the time wheel to a speed that produces the changes of a thousand years very fast. Our environment is loaded with the obvious signs of crisis (Krasznai 1997; Schemel 2001; Székely 2003; Végh 2003).
Lifestyles have also undergone changes in this transformed environment as a result of human needs and not always for the benefit of humankind.
Decreasing of physical activity and lack of movement already appearing in childhood, can be easily cured with the help of physical education and sports. Regular physical activity may effectively aid in the avoidance of some risks, and offers real alternatives to harmful dependence (on smoking, drinking, taking drugs) (Kovács T.A. 2004.)
People are motivated for skiing and for other winter activities! The popularity of these activities is increasing, and new styles appear frequently. Free style skiing, back country skiing, ski tours, the new school. Human beings evolved away from the original, natural environment can find roots outdoors again.
The positive functions of sport are obvious; besides having a preventive and rehabilitative and role in preserving health, it maintains or develops a culture manifested in movement. Sports and within that, sports being pursued in nature, provides adventure and joy, thus aiding the formation of a positive attitude of life (NAT 2003).
The traditional branches of outdoor sports and the new challenges, influence the visited natural surrounding, and often leave a trace behind. Athletes can be accused of destroying and polluting their environment, disturbing the habitat of certain flora and fauna species, and sometimes of an unnecessarily large consumption of resources. Thus the aim of those interested in exploiting these areas for sports and those arguing for its defense are often contradictory (Godbay 1999; Kézdy-Gadó 2003; Schemel 2001; Swinnerton 1999; Szeredai 2001).
It is obvious that the role of sport in developing personality and level of lifestyle is becoming more and more important. Besides that the defense, the protection, and the improvment of the environment's state is a challenging duty. Results can be reached only with wide cooperation (Nádori 2004, Nahalka 2003, Varga A. 2004).
A ski instructor can be part of this cooperation only if he/she considers the body, cultural, and environmental viewpoints with equal importance, while improving living standards. This can be achieved only through an environment-conscious behavior. There is a good chance for success, because of the positive attitude towards nature and sport.
Several ski-historical periods are important to evaluate the actual situation:
"Actively-involved Tourist" before the II World War e.g. Hemingway,
"The recovery Tourists" period, when skiing resorts consciously adapted its infrastructure to tourists, The "Adventure Tourists" period, when resort areas were building special infrastructure for extra activities in bad weather and snow conditions, and here we are at the "Mass Tourist" period, where skiing is not the most important value in a ski-trip!
Pleasure first-moral last! (E. Franke 1996)
Here we have something to do, influencing the guests to understand and serve the aims of sustainable development!
The lecture will show several facts: the activities of the FIS as the first non governmental organization, The International Olympic Committee declared: the fourth most important strive in the Olympic Movement to keep our environment! (IOC Agenda 21)
All the books for ski-instructors have a chapter about the subject sport and environment! (Dosek 2004) You will see several examples how the Hungarian pupils and students are thinking about their outdoor activities and their role in the sustainable development! You will see several poor methods, how we can keep our skiing environment for the future generations, and you will get several methodological advices for your pedagogical work! (Dosek 2000, Dosek 2005, Dosek 2006)
References:
Dosek Á. (2000): Benefits of pedagogical work in the subject "sport and environment". Abstracts 2-nd International Congress on Skiing and Science. 210-211.
Dosek Á. (2004): A sízés környezeti vonatkozásai. in: Dosek Á.- Ozsváth M (szerk.): A sízés +3. Ozsváth Miklós. Budapest. 17-20.
Dosek Á. (2005): Environment-consciousness of Hungarian students
in: Gy.Sz. Földesi - A. Gál (editors) New Social Conditions in Sport 1990-2005.
MSTT. Budapest. 207-226.
Dosek Á. (2006): The influence of pedagogical work in relation to the environment
and sport in a natural setting. . Journal of the Coimbra Network of Exercise Sciences
2006/ 3. 43-49.
Godbey, G. (1999): Leisure and leisure services in the 21st century. Venture Publishing,Inc. State College. PA 253
Kézdy P. - Gadó, Gy. (2003): A Szénások világa. Tájfutás. 2003/2. 36-41
Kovács T. A. (2004): A rekreáció elmélete és módszertana. Fitness Kft. Budapest. 20-21.
Krasznai I. (1997): Természet-, környezetvédelem és a sport. in: Dosek (szerk.) Erdők, hegyek sportjai. MTFSZ. Budapest. 128-140.
Lauterwasser,-Amend,-Ammer,-Volk,-Ulmrich, (2000): DSV Umweltplan 2000 , Wachter Graphischer Betrieb. Bönnigheim. 82
NAT (2003): National Core Curriculum
http://www.om.hu/xml/dispatch.xslt?object-id=a8b10ff8-e3f7-4133-b253-b507f58a0c92, 25.09.2003.
Nahalka I. (2003): A környezeti nevelés pedagógiai háttere. Nemzeti Környezeti Nevelési Stratégia. Magyar Környezeti Nevelési Egyesület. Debrecen. 23-28.
Nádori L. (2004): Sporttal a környezetvédelemért. Magyar Sporttudományi Szemle. 2004/2-3. 21-23
Schemel, H. J.(2001): Sports and environment: conflicts and solutions. Meyer & Meyer Sport. Vienna: 10-97.
Swinnerton, G. (1999). Recreation and Conservation: Issues and Prospects.
in: Jackson/ Burton (szerk.): Leisure Studies. Venture Publishing Inc. Pennsylvania: 201-218
Szeredai L. (2001): Erdő- gazdálkodás- sport... Tájoló. 8:18.
Székely M. (2003): Világproblémák világképünkben. Ph.D disszertáció. ELTE. Budapest. 42-43.
Varga A. (2004): A környezeti nevelés pedagógiai, pszichológiai alapjai. Ph.D dissertation
Végh L. (2003): Civilizációnk múltja, jelene és a XXI. század. in: Czippán K. (szerk.) Helyzetkép a fenntarthatóságról a hazai felsőoktatásban 2003. Környezeti Nevelési és Kommunikációs Programiroda. Budapest. 43.
