The American YMCA and its physical education program – first steps to world expansion

This paper looks at the fi rst steps taken by the American YMCA to expand its physical education program across various countries in South and Central America, Asia and Europe. The YMCA was established in 1844 in London. However, it particularly fl ourished in the United States of America, building large physical education facilities, setting up its fi rst physical education institute and developing new sports. Their schools were attended by people from all over the world, who went on to promote the organisation’s physical education program. Due to cooperation with the US army, the organisation saw further expansion and its secretaries began to operate in other countries. They were instrumental in establishing the fi rst local YMCA groups, often provided with material and fi nancial support by the United States. Local groups began to build their own physical education facilities and adopt new “American” sports. Elwood S. Brown was a pioneer in the promotion of the American YMCA’s physical education program. He worked for the organisation on several continents, signifi cantly assisting the organisation of big sporting events which were always attended by sportsmen from several countries. Unfortunately,many of the national YMCA groups were later paralysed by the Second World War. Despite that, theYMCA has become the largest voluntary youth organisation in the world.