Integration by Sport Activities: Resource or Only a Paradox?

Sport is one of the most widespread activities in contemporary society. It is a tool to improve the psycho-physical well-being of the population (healthy lifestyles); and plays an important role in social cohesion by providing opportunities for meetings and exchanges between people of different genres, cultures, capacities, nationalities... strengthening the "culture of living together". Recognizing to sport the ability to be a vehicle for integrating diversity - confirming the attention to intercultural dialogue at European level - attests to its importance in the current debate on integration and multiculturalism. This paper intends to discuss some questions: what connection exists between the construction of a multicultural society and the diffusion of sports practices? What meanings, values and paradoxes coexist today in the culture of integration implemented in Europe? Is the "sports" habitus a field of competition between migrants and natives, or a space of integration for generations of new citizens?