Integration through sport
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees supports sports associations in Germany in conjunction with the German Olympic Sports Confederation to create integrative programmes for people with an immigrant background.
On the initiative of the German government, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) founded the "Integration through sport" programme in 1989. The aim is to recruit people with an immigrant background to actively participate at all levels in club life - both as active members and as volunteers. Being involved in sporting activities with others helps to promote social integration and mutual acceptance. The intention is to foster awareness in the clubs towards openly engaging with people from different cultures.
Co-ordination by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
The programme is supported by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, and is co-ordinated by the DOSB. The regional sports associations and local sports clubs are then responsible for implementation on the ground. Approximately 500 sports clubs offer courses, tournaments, holiday camps and other sporting and leisure-related activities. The range of sporting and leisure programmes offered by the clubs is large. In addition to popular sports such as volleyball, handball, basketball and gymnastics, there are also specialist courses such as Sambo, boxing and wrestling.
38,000 participants a year
An academic evaluation carried out between 2007 and 2009 showed that the "Integration through sport" programme had been very successful in introducing people with an immigrant background to sport organised by clubs. Approximately 38,000 participants are involved in around 2,000 integrative sports groups per year.
More programmes are needed
The study also shows, however, that being involved in sport together does not automatically result in successful integration. Additional programmes to tie in with the sporting activities and promote integration are also needed. Most of the sports clubs participating in the programme already offer special integration services in addition to sporting activities. These range from helping with homework to open discussion groups.
Expansion and further development
The "Integration through sport" programme is being constantly developed. Over the coming years, target groups that to date have not been very active in sports clubs, such as girls, women and senior citizens with immigrant backgrounds, will be addressed more specifically. A further aim of the programme is to provide greater support in future to immigrants willing to take on voluntary roles and to further expand the intercultural openness of the clubs.
You can find further information (only in german available) at: www.integration-durch-sport.de
The Federal Office has commissioned the development of a database in which sports clubs that are working with integration issues and their programmes can be researched.
