Sports events and diasporic communities: a critical examination of explicit and implicit integrative dynamics

This article examines the multifaceted integrative roles of sports events organised in Europe by, with, and for diasporic communities of Syrian, Ethiopian, and Somali descent. Esser’s integration theory is used to critically and comparatively analyse empirical data collected from three ethnographic studies of sports events – ranging from competitive sports to cultural festivals and sustainable community-building activities – in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The analysis reveals that the sports events address different integrative aspects (i.e. culturation, interaction, identification, and placement) while also generating additional meanings for participants. These events often foster a sense of hybrid belonging and create spaces for diasporic communities to come together, reinforcing a shared cultural identity and solidarity within destination countries. The findings also highlight the complexities inherent in these events and reveal the dual and often overlapping nature of integration processes. Social interactions are not always straightforward, and participants negotiate the meaning and purpose of the events in situational ways. Moreover, participants can navigate challenges such as discrimination, identity conflict, and feelings of alienation. These issues underscore that the intended positive outcomes of the events – for diasporic communities and the broader societies they reside in and identify with – are contested.