Sporting organisations have come in for implied criticism for not doing enough to promote participation among immigrant communities in Ireland in a report by the Integration Centre and the ESRI.
It highlights that sports participation is lower among immigrant communities despite the appointment of specific teams by the major sports to promote inclusion.
Our view is that the report does not reflect the reality of what is happening in sports that are of greatest appeal to particular communities, or among second generation immigrants who are integrating well through sport around the country.
Sporting bodies, as part of society, have an obligation to be welcoming to all members of the community. The Irish abroad have benefitted from being integrated into sports around the world from Soccer to the NFL.  They have also formed their own international branches of the sports most familiar to them.
Any group will play the sport they are most comfortable with and Handball (the Olympic variety) is a great example of how groups have come together to form clubs.
Sport against Racism in Ireland is a promoter of tournaments that give opportunities for different immigrant groups to come together in sport and play.  It recently celebrated Africa Week with a soccer tournament that was very well subscribed.
An FAI programme on social inclusion is featured in a best practice guide published by UEFA for football authorities around the world.
The measure of inclusion is most important in second and subsequent generations, and analysis of team sheets at any youth tournament around the country will show that integration is taking place.  One need only look at the make-up of our Olympic team to see the value of integration and a community based approach to sport.
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