Sport and social inclusion

This chapter discusses the concepts that comprise social inclusion with reference to the seminal theorists in the field before providing case studies that demonstrate the theories in real-world contexts, offering insights into the complexities of providing inclusive sporting opportunities. Social exclusion may be reduced when individuals belong to and interact within groups and organisations; sport programming has the capacity if designed and managed well to empower and support disenfranchised and marginalised individuals. In other words, sport can provide a cornerstone and an environment for the development of relationships within communities that could result in an increase in social and cultural capital. Bourdieu also first articulated the concept of cultural capital, which he defined as the cultural goods, knowledge, experience, education, competencies and skills that an individual possesses and that confer power or status in society. Spaaij observed that disadvantaged youths' participation in the Sport Steward program in the Netherlands served to modestly increase their cultural, social and economic capital.