The Historical Mission of the Sociological Study of Physical Education and Sports in China

In China a sociological study of physical education and sports started from the Open Market Reform period. With the progress of the sociological study of physical education and sports in mind, this report intends to clarify what the fundamental character of the study is in today's China; and presents representative results which have been obtained from theoretical studies as well as social researches in each stage of the period. By examining 1) the changes occurred in the social role of physical education and sports in the each successive stage of new China's history, 2) the significance of the sociological studies towards the reforms needed in physical education and sports, and 3) the relation between economic development and sports, this report refers to the historical mission that sociological study of physical education and sports should carry out to social science.