Abstract

Refugee sites have played and still play a crucial role in managing the so-called ‘refugee crisis.’ Against the background that sports programmes are largely utilised as a tool for social development in this setting, this article examines the question ‘What role does organised sport play in refugee sites?’ For assessing this question, formal sport activities at the refugee sites of Niamey were examined in 2019 for a period of four weeks. For collecting data, the methodological approach relied on ethnography. Open observations (120 h) and narrative interviews (n = 10) were contextualised with reference to further information on the geopolitical situation and organisational logic of the sites. These data were reflected and interpreted through a systems theoretical framework. The results indicate that sport in refugee sites: is led by multiple meanings, which rely mainly on the logics of sport, health, and education; is implemented despite significant barriers, established in the organisation processes and considered relevant for different reasons; reproduces unbalanced power relations, supports disciplinary goals and is thoroughly promoted. While retaining its core, sport absorbs and reproduces inherent contradictions of this peculiar context.

摘要

难民营在管理所谓的“难民危机”方面已经并将继续发挥关键作用。在此背景下，体育项目在很大程度上被用作社会发展的工具，本文探讨了“有组织的体育运动在难民地点发挥什么作用？”这个问题。为了评估这个问题，2019 年对尼亚美难民营的正式体育活动进行了为期 4 周的检查。为了收集数据，方法论方法依赖于人种学。公开观察（120 小时）和叙述访谈（n = 10) 参考地缘政治形势和站点组织逻辑的进一步信息进行背景化。这些数据通过系统理论框架得到反映和解释。结果表明，难民场所的体育运动：由多重含义主导，主要依赖于运动、健康和教育的逻辑；尽管存在重大障碍，但在组织过程中建立并因不同原因被认为相关；再现不平衡的权力关系，支持纪律目标并得到彻底提升。体育在保留其核心的同时，吸收并再现了这一特殊语境的内在矛盾。