Sovietization of sports in Czechoslovakia and the establishment of the institute of physical education and sport (1948–1953)

After February 1948, the new communist regime began to subordinate areas of life in Czechoslovakia to advocated political and ideological demands. Consequently, the unification of physical education and sports into Sokol was declared. In addition to institutional and legislative changes, the system of training for specialists was reorganized. The genesis of the Institute of Physical Education and Sport is reconstructed to illustrate organization and management of Czechoslovak physical education. The process of adopting the Soviet model of direct state control is described in the context of the geographic, historical, economic, and social specifics of a given territory. This research was based on the study of archival documents from the provenance of the State Committee and the State Office for Physical Education and Sport. This paper examines the intentions of the competent authorities, the circumstances of the foundation, mission, application of graduates and the content of studies at the Institute.