ABSTRACT
Nelson Mandela’s statement refl ects a widely held view that sport can contribute in distinctive and far-reaching ways to important broad social outcomes (Bailey 2005; Burt 1998). But is it really the case? Can sport bring people from different backgrounds together and, in doing so, can it act as a force for social transformation and change? In the increasingly popular language of policy-makers and practitioners, can sport contribute to social inclusion? This chapter examines the theoretical and empirical bases of arguments for sport’s role in the social inclusion agenda, offering an international perspective on an issue that underpins many of the bold claims and presumptions being made for the power of sport in society.
