Preface: Dreaming of a 'slightly strange gym class' filled with quirky questions and imaginations.

Part 1: The origins and rules of sports that become more interesting the more you know about them

Q1 Are there any countries where marathons are banned?
Q2 How will the Olympic sports be decided?
Q3 Tug of war was an official Olympic event?
Q4 When did the first Olympic mascot come into existence?
Q5 What artifacts are on display at the Olympic Museum?
Q6 What is the difference between physical education and sports?
Q7 How did Baduk become recognized as a sport?
Q8 Choking, a foul in wrestling but a technique in judo?
Q9 Which term is correct: 'dead ball', 'hit ball', or 'hit by pitch'?
Q10 Are there any sports games without referees?

Part 2: Confident and Fair, Sportsmanship

Q11 Can a match between players with different physical conditions be considered fair?
Q12 Why can't athletes resist the temptation to dope?
Q13 Why were full-body swimsuits banned from swimming competitions?
Q14 Will the introduction of robot referees solve the problem of misjudgments and biased decisions?
Q15 When did female athletes begin participating in the Olympics?
Q16 Will the Olympics truly be gender equal?
Q17 Why do female beach handball players wear bikini uniforms?
Q18 Winter Olympics: A League of Their Own?
Q19: Freedom of expression vs. political neutrality: Which is more important in sports?

Part 3: Inseparable: Nation and Sports

Q20 Why is baseball popular in the US and cricket in the UK?
Q21 When did street cheering for the 'Red Devils' first begin?
Q22 Why is the national anthem sung at baseball stadiums but not at soccer stadiums?
Q23: Is the purpose of participating in the Olympics to enhance national prestige or to achieve personal growth and development?
Q24 Why did Hyun-soo Ahn compete in the Olympics as Viktor Ahn?
Q25 Why did Russia participate in the Olympics as the ROC?
Q26 What are the standards for military service benefits for athletes and for enhancing national prestige?
Q27 The first inter-Korean talks were held over a "sports" issue?
Q28 What song will be played if the unified Korean team wins a medal?
Q29 Taekwondo, what is the story behind its split into two branches from one root?
Q30 What do independence activist Yeo Un-hyeong and Hong Myeong-hui, author of Im Kkeok-jeong, have in common?
Q31 Which country has the world's largest football stadium?
Q32 The world's best track and field record holder was in North Korea?

Part 4: You Didn't Know This? A Sports Story That Shows What You Know

Q33 Did you know that at school they measured your physical strength by throwing grenades?
Q34 Are student athletes students or athletes?
Q35 Is studying abroad in sports early the shortcut to success?
Q36 Why are the number of college graduates in professional sports decreasing?
Q37 It's okay if you can't exercise! What sports-related career paths are there?
Q38 Why does everyone wear the same gym uniform during gym class?
Q39 What does a sports player's autograph mean?
Q40 Sports Club Fever: How far will it go?
Q41 What are the laws related to sports and how have they changed?

From the origins of the Olympics to the behind-the-scenes stories behind sports stars' autographs.
"Jidaebangyeopsal" in the sports field, easy and fun to read for anyone of any age or gender

This book is full of questions about sports that anyone has probably wondered about at least once, or even unique questions that might spark a curiosity you didn't know existed the moment you hear the questions.
It contains a selection of trivial but interesting, and absurd but sharp questions, such as when the Olympic mascot was first created (page 30), why the national anthem is sung at baseball stadiums but not at soccer stadiums (page 123), and what meaning is hidden in the autographs of sports stars (page 215).
As readers follow the author's clear and easy explanation of the question, they will naturally find themselves wondering the next question.
It covers not only the characteristics, rules, and origins of sports and competitions, but also various topics such as history, culture, discrimination and fairness, law, and systems, making it easy and enjoyable for even readers who are not familiar with sports to read.
The author says, “I hope that through this book, sports can become closer to our lives and become more like sports,” and guides us into the exciting world of sports.


A "Slightly Odd Physical Education Class" with Reading, Writing, and Discussion, Proposed by a Physical Education Teacher

Since COVID-19, blended learning, a combination of online and offline learning, has become a common form of instruction.
The same goes for physical education.
It is time to move beyond just gathering together in a playground or gym to engaging in physical activities and provide a more diverse physical education that includes reading, writing, and discussion.
However, in reality, most physical education classes are limited to functional aspects such as learning the rules and methods of sports games, group games, and performance evaluations.
To overcome such limitations, this book presents additional questions to consider in connection with other fields such as humanities, society, culture, and art, along with interesting sports stories.
After discussing the questions, various activities that foster integrated thinking skills are introduced, such as designing a mascot for a sports competition, purifying Japanese sports terminology, solving copyright issues in e-sports, and discussing the controversy over preferential military service for sports stars.
The Changbi Education website (www.changbiedu.com) provides sample answers and reference materials for activities in the data room, so they can be effectively used in both indoor and remote classes.
This book will serve as a solid guide for teachers who dream of creating integrated physical education classes filled with creative questions and imagination.

A career exploration guide for young people dreaming of a career in sports.

"A Slightly Strange Gym Class" is a great book to recommend to young people considering a career in sports.
No matter what sports career you choose, it's important to understand how the status and role of sports have changed in our society.
This book covers a wide range of sports, from popular sports like soccer, baseball, and golf to lesser-known sports like wrestling, baduk, and beach handball.
It also introduces various sports-related jobs such as personal trainers, sports data analysts, and sports counselors.
Additionally, it addresses issues that are not often covered in general career books, such as elite and school sports, student athletes who have not yet made their professional debuts, and realistic problems faced by physical education majors who need to find jobs.
The author, a former student athlete and physical education teacher, shares honest career paths based on his own personal experiences, helping young people hoping to pursue a career in sports to build a solid future while enjoying the sport.