EN
The article presents the figure and views of the creator of the modern Olympic idea – Pierre de Coubertin on the phenomenon of mental overload of students and the role of sport in human development. This development was based on kalokagathia – an ancient ideal of comprehensive education. In his book Pedagogie sportive (Sport Pedagogy), the French thinker shows how physical activity and sport can influence moral, social and mental development. The reflections and postulates of the reformer of education from a century ago turn out to be up-to-date with contemporary challenges of physical education of children and youth. These include limiting the natural need for physical activity in younger students, sedentary lifestyles, hypokinesia, remote education, students’ reluctance to participate in physical education classes, lack of adequate sports infrastructure for physical activity at school, and deficiencies in health education.