Developing intercultural sport educators in Europe: Opportunities, challenges, and future directions

Abstract

Migration within and from outside the European Union has significantly increased over the last 20 years. In turn, the resulting increase in cultural diversity has presented both challenges and opportunities. To maximise the opportunities, the successful, positive social integration of new groups is paramount. Sport has become more and more recognised as a tool to promote the social integration of diverse groups. As a result, sport educators are tasked with supporting social cohesion and intercultural education, but they often lack the skills or tools to do so and there is a limited picture of the opportunities or challenges faced in intercultural sport education. It is against this background that the “Intercultural Education through Physical Activity, Coaching and Training” (EDU:PACT) project was launched. It aimed to prepare physical education teachers and coaches for inclusive intercultural education in and through sport. Thus, in this chapter, the challenges and opportunities inherent to intercultural sport education will be mapped out, and the EDU:PACT Module will be presented as a potential approach to help address these challenges and capitalise on existing opportunities. Finally, this chapter will combine the various findings and outcomes to propose future avenues for the development of intercultural sport education. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Karen Petry and Johan de Jong; individual chapters, the contributors.