Improving athletic performance or promoting health through physical activity

The 20th century witnessed the globalisation of international sporting comp etitions, most notably in Olympic Competition. Thus whereas fewer than 20 c ountries competed in the 1900 Olympic Games, close to 200 countries were re presented at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. There has also been a progre ssive improvement in athletic performance during the past century, for reas ons that are described in this article. A question that needs to be asked is whether this increased global particip ation in competitive sport has improved the health of the general populatio n in those countries in which international competitive sports have been pr omoted. There is little evidence to support this possibility. An important goal of the beg inning century must be to globalise sporting participation amongst the general population specifically for health enhancement.