FOREWORD

I had the honour to be asked by the editor-in-chief of the magazine to write a short greeting at the beginning of the year. I was delighted to accept, but after the quick decision I kept wondering whether I should be a "killjoy" or set hard limits to my thoughts. I opted for the second option, so I cannot leave unresolved the problems that clearly set limits and even qualify the work of "We".

More than ten years ago, when the training of "recreation specialists" was launched in Győr, we - as physical education teachers - were sceptical about Miklós Bánhidi's enthusiastic ideas. As an outsider, and later as an instructor, it became clear to me that physical education, active leisure and competitive sport are closely linked. What they have in common is clearly the maintenance of the quality of health.

Physical education works with the family in a school setting, where the school's role is quality and the family's role is to build on this knowledge to provide quantity.

Thus, the target group for recreational activity tends to be young adults leaving regular education, through middle-aged and transition age to old age. The sites are natural and man-made facilities, the use of which requires educated, conscious planning.

Competitive sport is a completely separate field, but the common element is the need to maintain health while improving performance. In Hungary, the concepts of physical education, recreational activities and competitive sport are becoming confused, overlapping and irrelevant. I see the reader's frozen face, but never mind, I'll take it. What is happening? Already in childhood (kindergarten), and no less so in school, there is competition, and then this struggle becomes more intense as the child grows older. What's wrong with that? Well, it is that many children are excluded from the joy of playing together, and this does not reinforce their attraction to regular exercise later as adults. The world-beating achievements of adults who remain in competitive sport are, of course, a source of pride, but they are certainly no reason to confuse the concept of 'Sporting Nation' with 'Sporting Nation'.

At most 8-10% of the total population is involved in regular, individually designed, adaptive activity. Please do not think that physical activity is the only way to stay healthy, I do not think so either! In fact, it is a big mistake to ask people who do not do it as a daily routine to do it. A long walk or a hike in the open air can be as much fun as standing on the podium in a running race.

There is also serious concern about the resurgence of self-destructive behaviour among disadvantaged groups in society, and the failure of social institutions, whether educational or health care, to fulfil their role/role effectively, alongside their other important tasks, in preventing and reducing the damage caused. Such a solution could be to emphasise the role of prevention, which is the philosophy of the 'KERT' and the magazine it has founded. There is a wall of work to be done! I wish you good health, clever, understanding, helping, solidarity and expertise.

Prof. Dr. Ferenc Ihász
Professor