Author(s): BAGAAYA, F., Institution: FEDERATION OF UGANDA KORFBALL ASSOCIATION, Country: UGANDA, Abstract-ID: 574

INTRODUCTION:
The world is experiencing its highest levels of forced displacement with people having to flee their homes. Large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers face exclusion, and risks to their mental and physical health. Sport and physical activity can be a powerful tool for inclusion, relief, health promotion and human connection.
METHODS:
Sports activities can help newly arrived migrants “learn more about the culture of a country or local area, and can provide opportunities to establish social connections, practice language skills and improve overall individual health and wellbeing” (Ndofor-Tah et al., 2019: p. 38). Sports participation helps facilitate integration, inclusion and feelings of belonging to connect refugee-background people to others with shared experiences and to those with a similar cultural background.
RESULTS:
Refugees experience barriers to participation in sport and physical activity especially in relation to structured, club-based sport. This finding briefly demonstrates that barriers operate at multiple levels: structural, sociocultural, interpersonal, and personal.
Even though sport participation contributes to integration and social inclusion, discrimination can also have the opposite effect of exposing participants to racial or religious discrimination.

CONCLUSION:
Due to the fact that refugees suffer torture and trauma, settling in a new country can be far difficult and distressing. This research recommends civil societies to initiate sports programs to promote physical-mental health and positive community integration.