In recent years concern has been growing ab out the preservation ofworld peace, while over the past few decades there has been a vast increase in the amount of international sporting activity and hence more opportunities to advance international understanding and peace. It is this situation which caused the Congress on Sport and International Understanding to be convened, the idea for it ftrst having arisen after the Helsinki Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in 1975. The venue for the Congress was, as for the Conference on Security and Co-operation, Finlandia Hall. It was held under the auspices ofthe International Council ofSport and Physica1 Educa­ tion (ICSPE) and was organised by the Finnish member organisations, the Finnish Society for Research in Sport and Physica1 Education (organising association), Finnish Central Sport Federation (SVUL) and the Workers' Sport Federation (TUL). The aim ofthe Congress was to analyse the role of sport in advancing international understanding and to promote research in this fteld. In addition, the Congress wished to offer researchers and those involved in sporting activities an opportunity to exchange ideas about the themes under discussion. The aim of the Congress was to fmd the answers to the following questions: 1. What forms does international co-operation take in present-day competitive and top-level sport, sports for all and other forms of physica1 culture? What is its histo­ rica1 background and future? 2.