The Western University of Timișoara is constantly concerned with promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle among its community. In this context, UVT participated on March 25 in the National Conference on the History of Physical Education and Sport, which was held online and had as its main topic of discussion "The place of sport in history and the role of history in sport".
On behalf of UVT, Ms. Simona Tabără Amânar, in her capacity as Director of the Romanian Olympic Academy and Mrs. Simona Petracovschi, teacher of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport of UVT.
A graduate of our university, Ms. Simona Tabără Amânar delivered the lecture "Romanian Olympic Academy - landmark in Olympic education for 30 years", together with Mrs. Anita Sterea (historian, member of the Management Board of the Romanian Olympic Academy) and Mrs. Alexandra Nica (Director of the Department of Olympic Education, School and University Sports of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee).
The presentation contained a brief history of the activity of the Romanian Olympic Academy (AOR), as an institution of culture and Olympic education indispensable both in the sporting life and in the social life of young people. Founded in 1991, in its 30 years of existence the AOR has based its activity on hundreds of dedicated volunteers who offer their support in the territory through Olympic circles and clubs.
Internationally renowned athletes have linked their names to the activity of the Romanian Olympic Academy: Lia Manoliu, Laura Badea or Simona Amânar are just a few examples. In 2017, the Romanian Olympic Academy received the World Fair Play Diploma from the International Fair Play Committee in recognition of exemplary achievements. In the last three decades, AOR has been an important actor in Romanian and international Olympic history, and the whole story of these years was presented at the conference on March 25.
Also on this occasion, the Western University of Timișoara was also represented by Mrs. Simona Petracovschi, teacher at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport of UVT, who gave the lecture "Sport and the phenomenon of failure in Romania during the Cold War".
Interested in the history of sport, the sociology of sport, communication and social integration through specific activities, Ms. Simona Petracovschi described the complicated relationship between sport and politics during the Cold War, with the aim of analyzing how the Romanian communist state acted to stop the flight of athletes from Romania.
