20/04/2026
All for One
Communities formed around sports activities also play a key role in the integration of migrants. According to research by Margaret Whitehead and other scholars (2021), sport creates a space where migrants can build a sense of belonging, develop new support networks, and strengthen their cultural identity. Regular participation in sport helps reduce feelings of isolation and fosters trust between migrants and local communities.
In Warsaw, one example of such an initiative is Etnoliga, founded by Krzysztof Jarymowicz.
“Twenty years ago, I returned to Poland from abroad. I was interested in other cultures, but also in how refugees and migrants find their place in Polish reality. I visited a refugee center and proposed organizing football matches. From the very beginning, however, it was primarily a social project, not a sports one. Sport served as a trigger — a stimulus that encouraged people to leave the center and connect with others.
From the start, the idea was met with great enthusiasm. Many people from different countries signed up, and over time more communities and minorities joined. After four or five years, we realized that if the initiative was to truly be about integration, occasional tournaments were not enough. We wanted to meet regularly and play together. That’s how Etnoliga was born,” he explains.
Ali arrived in Poland from Iraq five years ago. The beginnings of life in a new country, functioning in a different cultural context, and the need to build everything from scratch were all challenging. Over time, he found a job in a bakery and a place to live, but it was his participation in Etnoliga that made him feel part of the local community.
“I’ve always been connected to sport, so the opportunity to play football felt natural and aligned with my interests,” he says.
Over time, Etnoliga also took on a therapeutic dimension for Ali. Hours spent on the pitch, among people with similar migration experiences, allow him to momentarily ease his longing for home and set aside everyday worries about his loved ones.
“It’s especially important to me now, as the situation in the Middle East is escalating again,” he admits.
