ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 describes the background of the evolving political belief that sports can help promote the integration of an increasingly diverse group of migrants and descendants into European countries. The chapter draws attention to the facts that Europe has become a major destination of migration only since the Second World War, and increasing attention has turned to migrants' and descendants' civic integration. Further, sports policy of the European Union is analysed, paying particular attention to its encouragement of member states to develop political initiatives and support for sports-related integration programmes. Finally, the chapter discusses the current political change through which European nation states are said to evolve into competition states, and the role of sports-related integration policies in this process.
