Intercultural Competence and its Development through Physical Education

The purpose of the study was to analyse criteria for success in intercultural learning and to describe conditions for successful intercultural co-operation. The article offers information on the potential of sport and physical education in developing pupils‘ intercultural competence.
Two concrete projects are introduced.
The introduction stresses the need for the kind of education that allows contemporary pupils to accept variety as a positive phenomenon and respect cultural diversity. The author interprets the concept of „cultural standards“ against a background of several research studies. It deals with personal and situational factors that play a role in determining the fruitfulness of intercultural encounters. The section called „Intercultural competency and its development in the school“ reflects on the reasons for failure in intercultural studies and analyses the conditions necessary for successful collaboration (co-operation instead of competition, status-similarity, possibilities of building personal relations, positive common social climate, well-known authorities giving positive examples to encourage contacts, pursuing common overriding objectives, no extreme negative positions).
The article then considers the benefits of sport andphysical education in multicultural education (sports and PR offer opportunities for personal meetings and understanding, reduces languages barriers, provides activities to which everyone can contribute and find success, brings visible results and immediate experiences). In conclusion two concrete projects encouraging tolerance and co-operation through movement and games are described.
The programme „The Development of Intercultural Competence through Sports in an expending European Union“ was implemented at four European universities. The objective was the preparation of future teachers for the multicultural reality at school. The programme provides knowledge about integration and evaluates methods of integration via sport.
The programme „Movement Culture in different Continents“ is designed to increase knowledge, and build image of respect, tolerance, and shared responsibility in pupils in basic and high schools. Sport and Physical Education can contribute to the education of culture competent citizens and help in intercultural education.