Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine: "if Olympic champions are real models and idols for today's young people" and whether they would wish or not to become Olympic champions, and which reasons they associate with their positive or negative answers. Subjects and setting: In surveys carried out in the years 1998 (12 and 15 year old respondents only) and consequently in the period 2010-2011 in which 1,274 boys and 1,090 girls, 12-19 years, old were respondents in this project. The quota samples were used in the selection of respondents in Prague´ and the Central region in the Czech Republic. The parts of the „Olympic Questionnaire“, created and verified in the 1998 survey were focused on the analysis of the respondents’ answers. The open answers of the respondents were subsequently divided into several general and common categories. Hypotheses: the desire to become an Olympic Champion was felt more intensely in respondents of the surveys carried out in the year 1998 than in the project carried out in period 2010-2011. Young people more involved in sports express their wishes to become Olympic winners significantly clearer than those who practice sports seldom or not at all. Over 16 year old respondents are more aware of the difficulties associated with the process of becoming Olympic champions than 12-14 year old pubescent. Statistical analysis: the evaluation of the differences and identical opinions between the respondents´ answers in the observed groups were made by the MANOVA and t-tests for independent samples. Results and conclusions: the hypothesis about the importance of sports models and idols in current youth was confirmed. The role of Olympic champions is very important; namely in the internalization of the Olympic values in the process of the Olympic education of youth; both at schools and out of schools. Olympians should be aware of the fact that even their behavior which is not related to sport events is noticed by young people. The Olympians should be informed about their influence on young generations. Mass-media play a very important role in their mediation. For these reasons, the collaboration between the Club of Czech Olympians and the Olympic Academy should be innovated.

Charles University Prague Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Department of Pedagogy Psychology and Didactics of Physical Education and Sport

Jsou olympionici skutečnými idoly mládeže v její motivaci a účasti ve sportu?

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