Disengagement, de-motivation, vulnerable groups and sporting inclusion: a case study of the Homeless World Cup

The inaugural Homeless World Cup was held in July 2003 in Graz, Austria with 18 teams competing. Organized by the International Network of Street Papers, the tournament's aims were to encourage disengaged and de-motivated people to participate in the sporting environment, to provide an inclusive football opportunity to raise personal dignity and self-esteem, and to use football as a social inclusion tool to challenge stereotypical views, especially in the media, of homeless people. The researcher was coach to the Welsh squad and this article reflectively reports the experiences of the Welsh squad in relation to the tournament's three objectives of: encouraging disengaged and de-motivated people, raising personal dignity and self-esteem, and challenging stereotypical views.