Welcome to issue number 41 of the ICSSPE Bulletin, where we provide a timely feature on Pre-Olympic Congresses and the Olympics. An historical viewpoint from Gerard King is complemented by examples of what delegates can expect to see at the 2004 Pre-Olympic Congress in Thessaloniki. In addition, Ommo Grupe explores Pedagogical Foundations of Olympic Sport while Deanna Binder prompts us to consider Olympic values education and how this may be achieved. Also keep up to date with news from Members, the ICSSPE Executive Office and our Partners in the regular sections of the Bulletin, and find out about new resources available in the Resource section.

The ICSSPE Website continues to be expanded and improved. Visitors now have the option of ordering and paying for publications online, while members can also make payment of membership fees using credit cards. Further expansion will see complete reprogramming of the site so that more information is visible aswell as greater addition of content. A current project due to be online this year is Sharing Good Practice, where examples of projects, resources, policies and research from around the world are documented in specific topic areas. The first to go online will be Women, Sport and Physical Activity, which will be edited by ICSSPE Editorial Board Member and Treasurer, Prof. Dr Darlene Kluka. Other topics to follow include Sport and Development and Physical Education Programs. Website visitors will be able to submit projects online that will then be evaluated by the relevant topic editor. Contact tdevine@icsspe.org if you have any comments or suggestions.

The ICSSPE Editorial Board had their annual meeting recently in New Orleans, and made some important decisions regarding the direction of the ICSSPE Publication Program. I would like to acknowledge the support of the Board, who assist us in continuing to produce quality resources. One of the decisions made was to create a mission statement for the Bulletin, to ensure the readership are fully aware of the intention of the publication. This mission states: ‘The Bulletin of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) is a tri-ennial publication, produced to provide a forum for ICSSPE members and other invited contributors to share news, promote research and events, raise issues for discussion and develop internal and external links. No formal peer review of content exists.

The content contained in the ICSSPE Bulletin is monitored by the Executive Office and Editorial Board, with the aim of preventing discriminatory or inappropriate comments. The views expressed within the publication are not necessarily those held by the ICSSPE Executive Office, unless otherwise stated.‘

The ICSSPE team is busy preparing for the 2004 Pre-Olympic Congress in Thessaloniki and we look forward to seeing many of you there. Please visit us in the Trade Display, where you will be able to purchase publications, pass on your ideas or simply have a chat and meet the team members. Until then, kind regards,