What did our research with the sector conclude?
The research indicated that religious and cultural needs often go unmet in sports spaces, which can discourage participation among individuals from religious backgrounds. Common barriers include a lack of private changing rooms, inflexible schedules that conflict with religious observances, and a lack of awareness around modesty requirements and other faith-specific considerations. Past evidence collected in Scotland suggests that people who belong to a religion are less likely to meet physical activity recommendations than those with no religion.[1] In addition, research has suggested that Muslims in Scotland are particularly unlikely to meet these recommendations, with a previous Scottish Government analysis highlighting participation amongst Muslim women and girls as a particular area of concern.[2] The following comments are from the 2024 research study, reflecting the range of views expressed by participants.
- "We don't have options like prayer rooms or private changing spaces in most sports centres, which can make people from some faiths feel uncomfortable or unwelcome."
- "There's a lack of awareness around why things like modest dress and women-only spaces matter for some groups, and that lack of understanding creates an unwelcoming environment."
- "People often want to participate, but if training sessions or matches are scheduled during religious observances, it creates a clear barrier."
- "When sports organisations engage directly with local religious groups and show they respect diverse needs, it opens up the opportunity for more inclusive participation."
- "Religious discrimination in sports can be subtle but has a significant impact. We need strong policies that make people feel safe and valued regardless of their beliefs."
- "Having staff from diverse religious backgrounds signals to participants that they'll be respected and understood, which can make a big difference in promoting inclusion."
Barriers
Cultural restrictions and expectations
Participation in sport amongst religious groups can be limited by conflicts between the requirements of a sport and religious expectations, including in relation to mixed-gender activities or with regards to clothing requirements. For example, recent research found that while 97% of British Muslim women would like to increase their participation in sports, 65% feel there are religious/cultural barriers that limit/stop their participation, including a lack of modest sports attire and a lack of women-only spaces/facilities.[3]
Lack of representation
People belonging to different religious groups may be discouraged from participating by a lack of representation of visible role models belonging to their faith in the sports they are interested in. This could be representation amongst professional athletes at the highest levels of sport, or representation at the local level amongst coaches, leaders and other members of the workforce at sports organisations.[4]
Discrimination and stereotypes
People from religious backgrounds are often discriminated against or face stereotyping as a result of their links to different faiths. In Scotland, for example, an overwhelming majority of people see sectarianism as a continuing problem, with football-related divisions seen as the main factor contributing to this.[5] In addition, people can experience further discrimination when their religion is associated with a particular ethnicity or ethnicities, such as in the case of Islamophobia, leading to further sporting exclusion in addition to potential racist discrimination (see Ethnic Diversity and Sport Learning Note).
What we can do about it
Education, training and awareness
- Celebrate religious diversity - organise events aimed specifically at increasing awareness of religious inclusion.
- Diverse representation - promote diverse representation of different faith groups in marketing and outreach.
- Deepen understanding - provide or take part in training and educational activities around religious inclusion to increase awareness and understanding around issues such as dress requirements, religious practices such as fasting, and holidays.
- Tackle discrimination - build clear processes for tackling discrimination such as effective reporting procedures to ensure there is zero tolerance for religious harassment, sectarianism, bullying or discrimination.
Facilities and scheduling
- Inclusive facilities - try to ensure that sports facilities accommodate different religious needs through (for example) private changing rooms or prayer spaces.
- Flexible scheduling - be open to offering alternative or additional practice/training times to accommodate religious events, such as fasting periods.
- Provide food options that cater to religious diets - where possible, ensure that sports facilities offer food and snacks that meet religious dietary needs such as halal food for Muslims and kosher food for Jews.
Representation and community engagement
- Diverse leadership and role models - seek to recruit and support coaches, staff and athletes from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds, helping people of all backgrounds feel inspired and included.
- Community consultation and engagement - reach out to local religious communities or organisations to build relationships, understand their needs and strengthen participation and representation.
