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Abstract

The immigrant population in Europe is today a reality. It currently has up to two and a half million foreigners (third countries), with Germany and the United Kingdom having the most (Eurostat, 2015). The result of this is a community within the society that is unified by its lack of basic necessities in all areas of life. This includes sports, an area where more attention is required. Therefore, the aim of this investigation is to address the lack of knowledge on this subject and to lay some groundwork for future research. The main aspects studied in depth are: the nature of the sports played, the types of competition, amenities, sports-related cultural expressions, needs as a community and many more. The findings of this research were collected by means of surveys, extensive interviews, focus groups and expert panels. Furthermore, the inclusion of the immigrant community, sports policy makers and experts in the field has led to the creation of a dialog between the participants involved, through a series of strategically composed questions. All the information gathered throughout the research stage has been methodically collated and developed. It concludes in a series of recommendations and proposals on how to make progress in integrating this community in the coming years.