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Kufstein Uni Shows How Sports Foster Integration for Refugees

  • 02.10.2025
  • Research
Zwei Teilnehmerinnen der FH Kufstein Tirol stehen lächelnd vor einer Bühne mit EASM-Banner und Konferenzschild bei der EASM Conference 2025 in Budapest, Ungarn.
© FH Kufstein Tirol

Prof. (FH) Dr. Claudia Stura und Prof. (FH) Dr. Yvonne Unnold von der University of Applied Sciences (UAS) Kufstein Tirol in front of the podium at the 33rd EASM Conference 2025 in Budapest, where they presented their studies on the integration of refugees through sports.

Sports clubs offer more than just leisure activities—they help refugees build networks and experience a sense of community. Two studies conducted by the University of Applied Sciences (UAS) Kufstein Tirol illustrate how successful integration can be achieved. The findings were recently presented at an international conference.

How can sports clubs help refugees get started in a new country while also creating new networks? This question was explored by Prof. (FH) Dr. Claudia Stura and Prof. (FH) Dr. Yvonne Unnold from UAS Kufstein Tirol. They presented their research in early September at the 33rd Conference of the European Association for Sport Management (EASM) in Budapest, one of the leading events in international sport management. More than 500 international experts discussed the conference’s main theme: Sustainability in Sport Management.

Sports as a Gateway to Social Connections

The two researchers examined how sports clubs can serve as platforms for interaction and exchange. As Stura emphasizes, sports are more than just a pastime: “They can be a gateway – to contacts, friendships, and a sense of belonging.”

Their studies focused on social integration: building relationships, establishing networks, and fostering a sense of community.

Refugees as Active Contributors

The studies show that refugees should not be seen merely as participants; they can also actively build networks and even take on leadership roles within clubs. These findings challenge deficit-oriented approaches in sports-based integration projects, which often focus solely on refugees’ need for support.

They can be a gateway – to contacts, friendships, and a sense of belonging.

Prof. (FH) Dr. Claudia Stura

Deputy Program Director, Bachelor's & Master's in Sports, Culture & Event Management

The research examined the experiences of refugee youth and adults in Tyrol, as well as the perspectives of club representatives and professionals from social organizations. The results highlight that clubs are important spaces for informal encounters, but also present challenges such as language barriers and the need to involve parents more actively. Coaches play a crucial role, as they can act as empathetic points of contact and bridge-builders.

Practical Insights

The research team is building on these insights: Stura has been working on sports-based integration for years and recently published an article on the subject in the Handbook of Exercise and Sport in Social Work, as well as an article entitled What makes us strong – the role of sports clubs in facilitating integration of refugees in the European Journal for Sport and Society.

Further studies are planned for the future in order to provide clubs with even more concrete recommendations on how they can specifically promote integration processes.

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