Abstract:

This presentation seeks to explore European sport policies aimed for forced migrants’ inclusion processes, and perspectives from Portuguese practitioners regarding inclusion through sport. It’s part of a PhD research project that seeks to understand the role sport may have as educational practice to foster youth forced migrants’ inclusion in Portugal. Migratory waves have been increasing and becoming more complex, as people are forced to flee from their home countries. In this context, social inequalities might arise due to fragilities related with possible traumatic migratory processes, language barriers, or cultural differences. International laws and guidelines have been specifically developed for these populations (i.e., asylum seekers, refugees). Yet, structural gaps still exist, linked to incoherence of settlement procedures and practices in European Union (EU) countries, that may not provide adequate responses. Sport, if aimed for educational and inclusion purposes, may act as social strategy with positive outcomes for forced migrants, not only in physical/mental well-being, but also by being a safe educational space, where new forms of cultural capital may arise. Promoting its practice can be a powerful mean for language learning, stablishing relationships, and to create feelings of (new) belonging. Sport’s social value is starting to be recognized, as European policies reinforce its wider role. Therefore, it’s necessary to explore the framework that policies give to practitioners for using sport in forced migrants’ inclusion, as well as to understand practitioners’ perspectives about its use. First, through document analysis, we looked for main priorities related with forced migrants’ inclusion through sport. European documents about different roles that sport might play, and its use in inclusion processes, were analysed. Then, semi structured interviews were conducted to understand how forced migrants’ settlement process in Portugal occurs, and how sport is seen by national and regional actors – 5 directly linked to settlement procedures and 2 sport institutions with programmes for forced migrants’ inclusion through sport. Interviews were analysed through thematic analysis and triangulated with data from document analysis. Results from European documents points to sport as having a multidimensional role, and some steps are being taken for value it, not only through partnerships with sports institutions, but also by promoting mechanisms and action plans for using sport as part of inclusion processes. However, it isn’t referred as a clear priority for diverse populations’ social inclusion, which might limit its use in forced migrants’ inclusion processes.

Data from interviews showed that:
i) Portuguese institutions responsible for settlement do recognize the potential of sport for inclusion, but don’t consider it a priority; and
ii) sport institutions defend that sport must be seen as an active part of inclusion processes, by its potential to promote interaction with others and to learn language.

Crossing data showed that, although there is acknowledgement of sport as a relevant social strategy, it isn’t often used as a mean for including forced migrants. These results allow to note that, despite sport is seen as a valuable strategy for including forced migrants, European sport policies might not provide a solid and clear framework that encourages practitioners to generalize the use of sport for inclusion of these populations.

Keywords:

Forced Migrants, Education, Social Inclusion, Sport, Policies.