From Aretē to Institutional Reward: Athletic Excellence and Access to Higher Education in Greece. The Case of Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (DPESS DUTh), Komotini

Giannakopoulos, A.¹, Giannaki S.²

¹Department of PESS, Democritus University of Thrace
²Department of PESS, Kapodistrian University of Athens

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Abstract

The study examines the historical evolution of excellence in sport and its relationship with education and access to higher education, focusing on the Greek context and the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (DPESS) in Komotini. Drawing on the ancient Greek concept of aretē, excellence is initially understood as the holistic development of physical, intellectual, and moral qualities linked to education and the common good. Over time, particularly in modernity, excellence shifts from an ethical and pedagogical ideal to a measurable performance institutionalized within organized sport and the modern state. The analysis emphasizes the 19th and 20th centuries, when physical education became part of national education systems and athletic achievement gained social significance. In Greece, legislation since the late 20th century has connected athletic excellence with admission to higher education. The study reviews this legal framework and presents quantitative data showing that admission through athletic excellence does not necessarily lead to timely graduation. Ultimately, excellence is viewed as a dynamic concept that requires a balanced integration of performance, education, values, and institutional support for athletes’ dual careers.
Keywords: institutional reward, reforms, higher education, career, recognition