Darbe atskleidžiamos Lietuvos olimpinės akademijos ištakos, analizuojami pagrindiniai veiklos bruožai, olimpinių žaidynių rezultatų mokslinis vertinimas, aptariamos moksleivių olimpinio švietimo problemos. Laikotarpis (10 metų) po Lietuvos tautinio olimpinio komiteto teisių sugrąžinimo Berlyne yra svarbus sporto istorijai, tampa nuoseklaus tyrinėjimo objektu. Įvertinus Olimpinės akademijos veiklą šiuo laikotarpiu, galima teigti, kad olimpinis švietimas, sporto mokslas atveria naujas galimybes. Olimpizmas, kaip svarbus kultūros reiškinys, didelis intelektualinis potencialas, ieško naujų veiklos būdų, teorinių ir praktinių išdėstytų problemų, temų, susijusių su žmogaus sveikata, fiziniu pajėgumu, sportininkų meistriškumo tobulinimu, sprendimo. Ateityje olimpinis švietimas turi būti artimai susijęs su olimpizmo vertybėmis, kurias būtina skleisti visiems Lietuvos gyventojams.

Sport science of Lithuania should not be isolated from academic society of Lithuania, it must draw it‘s vitality from other sciences, continuously stressing leading role of human factor, human potential, especially in developing open, democratic society, integral with the European culture, science and its spiritual values. Sport, and primarily Olympic sport, become inseparable part of science and culture, it expresses greatness and beauty of human being, highlights meaning of humanistic values and ennobles human spirit. Aim of our research was to define main development directions of social sciences, mainly sport science. In the process of the development of sport science in Lithuania, it is necessary to apply initiatives of scientists in solving specific state problems, increasing effectiveness of scientific research, integrating sport and studies into society, to contribute to the preparation and expertise of the documents of state importance. It is necessary to change understanding and evaluation of social and humanitarian sciences in our country: it is not acceptable application of the principles of natural and medical sciences that dominates by now. Government of Lithuania must find political will to change attitude towards humanitarian and social sciences, to regard them as real engine of science development in our country in the ¥production´ of most precious product – knowledge, culture, intellect, sport – but not as ¥freeloaders´ of the state and business structures. Procedures of habilitation, preparation of habilitation theses must become one of the methods of scientific research quality evaluation and recognition of scientific activities of the scientist.

Sport history, coined in the forge of ages, embodies an understanding of the human ideal that integrally bonds physical beauty and moral generosity inside. Humanistic Ancient Greece ideals, that declare the training of body’s beauty and grace, sports spirit, generosity and honesty, still are the major humankind value as they have been for many centuries already. The heritage of athletes, coaches and scientists of Vilnius Pedagogical University (founded in 1935, until 1992 - Pedagogical Institute) is of major importance; it can be proud of and will be followed by future generations. Vilnius Pedagogical University has cherished and nurtured pedagogical trends and schools of its own, has educated such pedagogical scientists as L. Jovaiša, B. Bitinas, V. Rajackas, J. Vaitkevičius, M. Lukšienė, M. Karčiauskienė, V. Jakavičius, Z. Bajorūnas, J. Laužikas, J. Uzdila, S. Kregždė, M. Barkauskaitė, R. Grigas and others. Physical education and sport have never lacked consideration of outstanding pedagogues, they were discussed as a social phenomenon and a very important part of public culture; some pedagogical and psychological students‘-athletes‘ training and performance development aspects, students‘ health problems were discussed and analysed as well. The supreme impulse in developing students‘ sport activity was given by Faculty of Physical Education, Music and Singing, founded in 1957. Teachers of physical education, human anatomy and physiology were educated there. The first dean of the faculty was Vytautas Kulakauskas, famous basketball expert and docent. This faculty had been reorganized into the Faculty of Nature and Geography in 1961, where pedagogues of double specialities - geography and physical education, biology and physical education were prepared; and later in the Faculty of History specialists of history and physical education were prepared, too.[...]

Sprendžiant konkrečios sporto treniruotės problemas, būtina veiksmingai naudoti sporto mokslininkų, trenerių iniciatyvas, mokslinius tyrimus, gerąją praktiką. Naujų technologijų kūrimas, gerosios trenerių praktikos atskleidimas ir pažinimas per sporto treniruotės teoriją ir didaktiką – svarbiausia sporto mokslo funkcija. Nauji sportinio meistriškumo iššūkiai pasaulyje kelia naujus reikalavimus trenerio kompetencijai. Tai matyti ir mokslininkų tyrimuose, ir trenerių praktikoje, rengiant didelio meistriškumo sportininkus. Trenerio veikla tampa įvairesnė, nes spor-tininko, siekiančio konkuruoti aukščiausiu lygiu, rengimas yra daugiametis reiškinys, reikalaujantis ne tik trenerio specialiųjų, profesinių, bendrųjų kompetencijų, bet ir kitų sportinio rengimo daly-vių – mokslininkų, medikų, vadybininkų – subalansuoto objektyvaus darbo, valstybės palaikymo bei paramos visiems sportinio rengimo proceso dalyviams. Straipsnyje pažymima, kad modeliuojant sportininkų rengimą olimpinėms žaidynėms, būtina atsižvelgti į sporto šakos, rungties plėtotės ir prognozavimo tendencijas, šiuolaikinio sportininko pagrindinių savybių analizės duomenis, sporto treniruotės metodikos ir strategijos kitimą, augančią treniruotės krūvio, materialinės ir techninės bazės raidą. Kruopščiai tai išanalizavus, žinoti ir apibendrinti savo sportininkų ir varžovų sportinį rengimą per treniruotes bei varžybas. Tuomet galima tikėtis trenerio įžvalgų, tampančių prielaida pasitvirtinti sportinių rezultatų prognozę. Tyrimu nustatyti treniruotės kokybės vertinimo kriterijai, atsižvelgiant į mokslinio darbo naujumą, originalumą, įtaką formuojantis naujoms mokslinių tyrimų sritims, neužmirštant mokslininkų pilietiškumo, tolerancijos, garbingo jų skatinimo.

Lithuanian sport scientists‘ initiatives are needed to be applied more efficiently when solving particular collective problems, developing effectivity of scientific research, integrating science in studies and society as well as arranging various documents of national importance and executing expertises. The goal of the work was to describe the main directions for sport science development. Lithuanian government has to manage changing it‘s attitude towards humanitarian and social sciences as considering these two areas to be essential stimulus for national science development that results in knowledge, intelligence, culture, mentality instead of seeing them in reliance on state and business. Renewed Lithuanian Sport Science Council has to concern about everything: sport science, studies, Olympic education, culture, publishing, high level in writing doctoral thesis and training athletes. Sport science has to be developed and this requires scientific conferences, seminars, discucions, colorful personalities, practical experience, scientific publications, and, of course, latitude of thought in the spirit of global ideas. Nationality and national identity have to be evaluated as existence basis, not only as guarantee for nation growth. For scientists, aim to write more scientific works has to become one of the most important aspects for evaluation of the quality of these writings and acknowledgement of scientist‘s works. It is essential for social sciences to establish quality criteria considering scientific research novelty, originality, influence on new scientific areas formation, and, certainly, taking into consideration aspects of scientists’ public spirit, tolerance, and fairness. When knowing scientific world tendencies, scientists‘ attitudes, and accumulative experience, it is needed for all Lithuanian scientists to unite and plan development directions, because of the importance to know where we go, what may change and what we have to change or do while acting in European context.

The journal “Sport Science” celebrates the anniversary as 20 years ago the very first number was successfully published. It was long and difficult period for the journal to mature, survive, and become integral part of national sport life. [...]