<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Thanks to John W. Loy one of the recurrent themes in Institute of Scandinavian Physical Culture (ISPC) was “agon”. First, I offer some old Nordic examples on games – possibly with an agonal element. Then I focus on moral and character in order to identify some sort or a vestige of agon and revisit physical culture in terms of “idræt”, an old Nordic word for athletics and sport. Finally, I ask if there is – atavistic or not – in the modern world any glimpse of agonal behavior to be found and appreciated within the three realms or categories, which could be pillars of a physical education program: Nature, combat/competition and aesthetics. Would Edmund Hillary, Nelson Mandela and Pussy Riot qualify into a renewed, more general perception of agon?</p></abstract>

Thanks to John W. Loy one of the recurrent themes in Institute of Scandinavian Physical Culture (ISPC) was “agon”. First, I offer some old Nordic examples on games – possibly with an agonal element. Then I focus on moral and character in order to identify some sort or a vestige of agon and revisit physical culture in terms of “idræt”, an old Nordic word for athletics and sport. Finally, I ask if there is – atavistic or not – in the modern world any glimpse of agonal behavior to be found and appreciated within the three realms or categories, which could be pillars of a physical education program: Nature, combat/competition and aesthetics. Would Edmund Hillary, Nelson Mandela and Pussy Riot qualify into a renewed, more general perception of agon?

Agon Lost – or in Disguise? A Commentary

Institute of Scandinavian Physical Culture

Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Agon Lost \u2013 or in Disguise? A Commentary"}

Thanks to John W. Loy one of the recurrent themes in Institute of Scandinavian Physical Culture (ISPC) was “agon”. First, I offer some old Nordic examples on...

Agon Lost – or in Disguise? A Commentary

Published Online: Jun 03, 2019

Page range: 46 - 52

Received: Nov 10, 2018

Accepted: Feb 11, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2019-0011

Keywords
agon, ball games, physical culture, physical education

© 2019 Olav Ballisager, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Agon Lost – or in Disguise? A Commentary

Published Online: Jun 03, 2019

Page range: 46 - 52

Received: Nov 10, 2018

Accepted: Feb 11, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2019-0011

Keywordsagon, ball games, physical culture, physical education

© 2019 Olav Ballisager, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
agon, ball games, physical culture, physical education