National University of Physical Education and Sport

foundation, in 1921, under the aegis of Prince Charles. By then, the physical education and sports issues were popularized through the “Energy Source” journal, created in 1921. The need for specialists organizing, coordinating, leading and training determined the foundation, in 1922, of the National Office of Physical Education, within which the National Institute of Physical Education came into being. In order to set up the above - mentioned institutions, General Virgil Badulescu got the royal family support (especially from the part of King Ferdinand 1), but also that of Dimitrie Gusti (Director of “People‘s Culture House”) and of Professor Vasile Parvan). The Physical Education Law Project, drawn up by General Virgil Badulescu and some of his close co-workers, was approved by the Senate in 1923 and then promulgated by King Ferdinand 1, although the activity had already started in 1922. After its foundation, the National Institute of Physical Education was supported by the Ministry of War (locations, courts and money), by the Ministry of Public Instruction and by some Bucharest faculties. To start its activity, the National Institute of Physical Education recruited a highly skilled teaching staff made up of Romanians, but also of guests from Sweden, Germany, the United States, France and Japan, by providing thus an international level training. The first class of physical education teachers graduated in 1926 and many of them were to become outstanding personalities in the field. Then, throughout the years, great athletes, Honored Masters of Sports, managers and top business men in different areas, persons with responsible positions, institution executives in our domain and not only, authentic ambassadors of our contemporary Romania, studied or improved their training at the National Institute of Physical Education. Among them, we mention Ivan Pazaichin, Nadia Comaneci, Ion Tiriac, Iolanda Balas, Laura Badea, Dan Grecu, Octavian Bellu, Violeta Beclea-Szekelly, Cristian Topescu, Marius Urzica, Ionut Lupescu, Gabriela Szabo, Marian Dragulescu, Mihai Constantinescu. Along its 88 years of uninterrupted activity, the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports has passed through good and bad moments, depending on the economic and political conditions in our country. Starting with two sections, the civilian one (4 years) - training teachers for any education level - and the military one (1 year) - training officers for the physical education instruction, the National Institute of Physical Education gradually created specializations in different practical disciplines, organized doctoral studies and founded the Scientific Research Institute for investigations in the field. For a longtime, a part of its achievements were unjustly ignored. Moreover, there were periodical changes of the institution curricula and syllabuses, of its study duration (since 1975, 3 years of study), but also of its name. After the events of December 1989, the National Institute of Physical Education and Sports regains its previous 4-year study duration, its academic title and position, being currently named the “National University of Physical Education and Sports”, with its headquarters in Bucharest, 140 Constantin Noica Street, sector 6. Changes have particularly been focused on: educational offer, specializations, study forms, curricula, analytic syllabuses, education and learning quality, our own facilities and training centers, teaching staff, the scientific research high quality, our opening to the European academic community and not only, through partnerships, scientific and cultural exchanges, common projects.