Comparison between girls and boys regarding their attitudes towards the subject of olympic education

The purpose of this survey was to record and compare the attitudes of schoolboys and schoolgirls attending primary or secondary schools towards the subject of Olympic Education. The questionnaire was completed by 84 schoolgirls and 80 schoolboys of primary and secondary schools respectively (N=328), situated in the prefectures of Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupoli, Greece. The children of the sample were given the questionnaire of the Administration of Education and Training, 'Athens 2004' Organizing Committee for the Olympic games. The questionnaire was modified for the purposes of this survey. The statistical processing of data used the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), analysis of variance (ANOVA) and comparisons of frequencies (chi-squared test). The results showed that, although schoolboys and schoolgirls on both levels of education (primary and secondary) had a positive attitude towards the continuation of the subject of Olympic Education, they had different expectations, in general, depending on their sex and their age. Thus, the differences observed in their answers were regarded as normal, considering their social background, and their requirements depending on their age and their interests. The results of the present study should serve as indicators for the modulation and reconciliation of the Olympic Education course in order to meet the students' needs and interests according to their age and sex.