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In this article the author develops some reflection on problems related to physical culture, showing that the present-day state of sciences of physical cul ture requires more extensive studies than so far and a many-sided approach to theoretical problems without which these sciences will not be in a position to supply correct answers to many detailed problems. From among philosophical problems connected with physical culture the author sets apart as especially important that of human motor activity, drawing attention to the fact that physical culture is above all a certain form of motor activity the purpose of which is improvement of the human motoric system by means of exercises and play involving movement. In this connection he points to many efforts made so far and to a variety of research trends that have taken shape and declares that these studies have not brought sufficiently satisfactory results. Many controversial opinions and attitudes exist and also many unknown quantities that will have to be solved. Another important problem is the role and significance of the human body in the civilizational process. In this respect a remarkable evolution of opinions has recently taken place. In discussions on these problems participated above all philosophers but there are certain indications that theoreticians of physical culture have also joined the discussion, which is understandable since it is a matter that concerns precisely the latter. The last problem dealt with in this article is play as a specific form of hu man self-expression. The author perceives in dialectics of work and play, in their interaction and at the same time contrast as well as the consequences stemming from it, the very essense of research tasks, the solution of which should not be indifferent for the sciences of physical culture, since contemporary sport is nothing else but the most universal play involving movement.

The comparative data given in this article testify clearly to the exceptionally many-sided development of physical culture in te USSR during the course of the past 15 years and also to the fact that this development was made possible by certain socio-structural conditions. These data show that the model of Soviet sport is clearing the way to pass over from sport of a mass character to its uni versal aspect, a model inseparably connected with the structure of socialism, with the planned aspect of the development of its economy and with its ideological guidelines. This is undoubtedly a humanistic model, in accordance with the au thentic and essential needs of people.

Among the many identified, carefully studied and described functions perform ed by sport, special attention should be paid to the function of improvement of motoricity. This function is still insufficiently studied and even frequently un derstood in a controversial way. Still not enough attention is paid to the circumstances connected with this which reach the very foundations of human existence, the very essence of man as the fundamental productive force. Thus broadening the range of productive forces, improving working tools and constructing new, better tools, people are as a result compelled to adjust their skill to these improved working tools, or means of communication. This signifies a constant need for an intensification of motoric activity, greater precision and speed of movements, i.e. a broadening of the limits of motor ability. It is precisely sport which objectively performs the function of such a school of motoric activity, irrespective of the fact whether the competitors and organizers of sport are aware of that or not. Setting for the competitors the task of a maximum of precision of movements, sport makes it possible to shape and afterwards to introduce into everyday practical life new and improved forms of movements. Many of the movements and motoric techniques, used for the first time in sport and which then seemed to be not functional and even deprived of any sense at all, later turned out useful in the production process, in communication and technology. Movements used in sport thus are of an anticipating nature in regard to movements at work. They make it possible better than so far to master the entire body, learn about its motoric possibilities in the sphere outside of production, from where, after having already been tested and verified, they may be transferred to the production sphere. That is why that function of sport should be approached as an exceptionally important function, perhaps even the most essential function performed by sport. Therefore the definition of "Sport" without taking into account its civilizatio nal role and its ties with production processes — and such attempts were and are being made - should be considered not only as being superficial, but as pointless and disorientating. Therefore "Sport" should be defined as an objectivized, basic, mass form of present-day cultural activity, which uses exercises as well as games involving motion as means to depict in a specific way the needs and character of the con temporary technology of production, transportation and military technology, of the contemporary level of the organization of social life, its rate and its complexity, in order to help our body and our motor system to adapt to present-day civili zational conditions.

An analysis of sociological research on sport and theoretical works in this sphere, conducted in the past in this respect indicates that though such research has today already a relatively broad range of subject matter and deals more and more thoroughly with everyday reality in sport, it nevertheless exerts still an insignificant influence on sport practice.

A forecast of the social future, reconnaisance regarding its probable shape — is a postulate of a theoretical as well as practical nature. It can be ascribed to various spheres of social life, also to physical culture. Though there exist doubts as to the purposefulness of research on the future, there nevertheless are sufficiently well justified arguments, testifying not only to the possiblility but the necessity to take this type of research into account in science. After all, they establish a new additional way of looking at reality as a variable reality, which is dynamic due to which we are enabled to look at existing reality in a more comprehensive manner, make it the subject of reflections that enrich our cognitive abilities. This is important in all spheres of knowledge and social life, but is above all important in these and such activities which we define as cultural activity. This was very correctly defined by Bohdan Suchodolski, who stated that the future is not what people expect but it is the outcome of their activity, their achievements and neglect. Here one could add that it also stems from their attitude to the cultural heritage, the ability to make certain choices. And it is in this field of research on the choice of values that forecasting in research should not be omitted. Formulating these needs the author concentrates in his work on the choice of values and developmental possibilities within the framework of forecasting in the field of physical culture.

The author presents an analysis of the concept social development, in con nection with the development of a certain phenomenon, namely sport. Here he distinguishes quantitative changes that are taking place in a dual sense: as chan ges in the structural sphere and changes in the functional sphere, occurring more or less parallely. According to the author these changes are accompanied by pro cesses of structural and functional disintegration as well as integration on a new, higher level. He points to the phenomenon of apparent changes and also irregula rities that always accompany development. The next developmental stage are changes of the qualitative type, leading through structural and functional changes to changes of the features of sport of the model type. All this jointly exerts its influence on changes in mutual relation between sport and the social system. Thus one finds an increasingly greater role played by awareness in the shaping of these relations. In conclusion the author formulates certain laws, permitting to forecast the development of sport as a so cial phenomenon.

The author analyzes the term quality of life as a manifestation of man's self-re alization within the framework of contemporary civilizational development and reaches the conclusion that sport turns into an indispensable, universal element of self-realization. He thinks that this is connected with the revaluation of the body as a universal asset, permitting the fuller, richer and more all-round experience of the world. The author maintains that people's aspirations towards achieving self-realiza tion will make sport change its content and its functions. It will have to adjust not only to new technology but also to the cultural emancipation that is taking place, to the changing inter-human relations, to the new dimensions of our civilization. This causes changes in the quality of sport itself, marked on the one hand by a tendency towards more and more far-reaching rationalization and intellectualization and on the other hand towards an increase in ludic elements in sport, in conditions, where the growth of leisure time will exert its influence on the increase of leisure pursuits and the culture of play as an essential factor in the shaping of the quality of like.