New research at the University of Galway has found that greater diversity in sport comes through actively spending time with ethnic minorities.
The study is part of a five-year strategic plan being launched in Dublin by the solidarity-through sport movement, Sanctuary Runners.
It is calling on national sports bodies to foster proactive initiatives on the ground.
Making Strides for Solidarity is the title of the five-year plan and the core message of Sanctuary Runners is "action not words".
There are groups in towns and cities across Ireland bringing together locals and people who have moved from other countries.
The Galway group includes members in Direct Provision in Salthill and the city centre.
The experience of belonging and connecting has been transformative for Marvin Paul Muganga, an asylum seeker from Uganda who lives in Direct Provision in Galway city centre.
"When I felt lost and I was down, the Sanctuary Runners gave me hope and a sense of direction. It's a caring and loving community where I feel we all belong no matter our background. The group continues to ease my integration and shape my journey into the lovely and welcoming Irish society. We run as one."
Dr David Healy led research at the School of Psychology in the University of Galway. The findings confirm that models of integration focused on doing things "with" rather than "for" people yield the best results.
"Our work explores how and why the Sanctuary Runners' model impacts health, wellbeing and connection to community.
"One of the key findings is how simply spending time together through Sanctuary Runners' events transforms people’s perspectives of what it means to be part of a diverse community.
"The act of doing something together has powerful impacts for participants - both those who are Irish and those who have come from other countries including asylum seekers."
A key pillar of the new strategic plan is the intention to work with national sporting organisations in Ireland to help them make their sports more diverse and representative of modern-day Irish society.
CEO of Sanctuary Runners Anna Pringle said: "As we know so well in the Sanctuary Runners, sport is an incredible tool to break down barriers, combat bigotry and racism, nurture mutual understanding and enrich local communities.
"However, there is often a marked lack of diversity in sports which is not good for anyone. It’s imperative that our national governing bodies look closely at how they are doing in terms of attracting people from a diverse background to their games. They must hold up a mirror and ask if their sport is truly multicultural and ask the question 'if I was from an ethnic minority in Ireland would I feel welcome here'?
"There is a lot of talk about equality in sport but we need to see action. As part of our Making Strides for Solidarity plan we want to work with organisations to identify the hurdles to greater diversity and help them to overcome them."
A 2024 survey by the University of Galway research team found that 74% of Sanctuary Runners felt more connected to their community; 78% of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants reported better physical wellbeing while 67% of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants experienced improved mental wellbeing.
Sanctuary Runners says the findings help it plan future initiatives to encourage inclusive, health-promoting communities.
It now aims to take its model to other countries across the globe.
In the coming years it plans to set up groups across the UK, Australia, the Netherlands and elsewhere - with the shared core values of solidarity, friendship and respect.
