OVERVIEW

The course explores religious pluralism in sports, focusing on two main aspects. On one hand, sports are seen as an educational tool that allows athletes to express their religious identity, promoting values of fairness, non-discrimination, and social inclusion. On the other hand, the supposed "neutrality" of the sports system regarding religion can lead to difficulties in protecting athletes' religious rights. Gaps in sports regulations and justice systems make it hard to safeguard religious identity. The course aims to provide tools to analyze religious identity and phenomena in contemporary legal systems, also examining the relationship between religion and public administration, especially in the third sector.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course, in view of the link between Sport, Religion and cultural pluralism, especially in the field of religious symbolism in the sports system, aims to analyse: • the soul-body dichotomy from the point of view of some of the main religious denominations • the importance that, according to the main religious confessions, physical exercise can have for the purpose of pursuing the spiritual elevation that leads man to "salvation" • some of the fundamental principles that govern the sport system, to understand if and to what extent they are shared and find concrete expression also in the world of religions • the rules of the game and the autonomy profiles of sports law, to verify how the "visible" exercise of the religious faith to which one belongs is made explicit in the sports employment relationship • some concrete cases in which confessional pluralism manifests itself in the sport system, to evaluate whether or not the latter ensures the necessary conditions for the athlete-faithful to express his or her "religious sentiment", without undergoing any form of restriction.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to:

1. Analyze religious pluralism in sports – Explore how different religious identities manifest in sports and their impact on athlete participation and integration.
2. Examine the legal and regulatory framework – Study national and international laws regarding religious freedom in sports, focusing on contracts, federal regulations, and sports justice decisions.
3. Evaluate the challenges of sports neutrality – Reflect on the implications of the supposed neutrality of the sports system regarding religion and gaps in protecting athletes' religious identities.
4. Promote an inclusive and non-discriminatory approach – Explore strategies to support the integration of athletes from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, ensuring non-discrimination and equal opportunities.
5. Provide practical tools for professionals – Equip sports managers, legal experts, coaches, and other professionals with knowledge to handle situations where athletes' religious needs intersect with sports rules.
6. Foster dialogue between sports institutions and religious communities – Explore potential synergies between federations, sports organizations, and religious groups to create sports models that respect cultural and religious pluralism.

Through expert input, the course will help participants develop critical thinking on the dynamics between sports and identity, gaining skills to address multicultural challenges in contemporary sports.

Literacy skills: Ability to communicate effectively in writing and speaking, adapting communication to the context, using various sources and aids with methods like Debate, Think-pair-share, Case-based learning, and Group learning.
Social skills: Ability to manage social interactions, adopt a collaborative attitude, and communicate constructively in diverse environments using methods like Think-pair-share and Case-based learning (if done in groups).

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific prerequisites required

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes 36 hours of in-person lectures (equivalent to 6 ECTS credits). During the course, there will be credit-bearing seminars and optional oral or written exercises, with related materials available on AulaWeb. These activities may replace or supplement parts of the program, subject to agreement with the instructor.

Students will also have the opportunity to work on individual or group projects under the instructor’s guidance. The parts of the program covered by these projects will be considered in the final assessment and will not be part of the final oral exam, which will take place during one of the scheduled exam sessions.

Attendance will be recorded according to the methods outlined by the instructor in the first classes. Students are also encouraged to complete the course evaluation survey, an important tool for identifying any issues and improving the courses. The survey can be found here:
https://valutazione.servizionline.unige.it/

Teaching Methodology

• In-person lectures and theoretical deep dives
• Analysis of legal and regulatory case studies
• Guided debates and group work on specific topics
• Simulations for resolving sports disputes related to religious identity
• Research projects and final presentations

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Module 1 – Introduction to Religious Pluralism in Sports

• Key definitions and concepts of sport and identity
• The social role of sports in cultural integration
• Manifestations of religious pluralism in the sports context

Module 2 – Legal Framework and Legal Aspects

• Religious freedom in national and international laws
• The principle of neutrality in sports and its legal implications
• Analysis of regulations and sports justice in relation to religious identity

Module 3 – Challenges and Conflicts in the Sports Context

• Religious clothing and sports regulations (e.g., hijab, kippah)
• Religious fasting and athletic performance (e.g., Ramadan)
• Managing prayer times and shared spaces

Module 4 – Sports and Interfaith Dialogue

• The universal language of sport as an inclusion tool
• Inclusion practices for athletes from different religious backgrounds
• Experiences of interfaith dialogue in sports

Module 5 – Practical Perspectives and Conclusions

• The role of managers, coaches, and referees in managing diversity
• Strategies for inclusive sports governance
• Final discussion on case studies and presentation of research projects

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Students attending the course: Study materials will be uploaded on AulaWeb. These can be supplemented with the following texts:

• Caterina Gagliardi, The Protection of Religious Identities in the Sports System. Legal Issues, Luigi Pellegrini Editore, Cosenza 2023 (cap. 1, 3, 4, 5)

Students not attending the course:

• Caterina Gagliardi, The Protection of Religious Identities in the Sports System. Legal Issues, Luigi Pellegrini Editore, Cosenza 2023.

• Antonello De Oto (editor), Sport e identità. La lotta alla discriminazione in ambito sportivo, Bonomo Editore, Bologna 2016 (art. G. Paccione, M. C. Ivaldi, N. Fiorita, S. Ognibene)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lectures will begin in the first semester (2025) as scheduled on the academic calendar, available on AulaWeb.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be oral and consist of 3-4 questions based on the course material. During the course, students attending the classes will have the opportunity to work on individual or group projects under the guidance of the instructor. The parts of the program covered by these projects, which will be considered in the final assessment, will not be included in the final oral exam, which will take place during one of the scheduled exam sessions. The exam will be held in person.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral or written exercises during the course and the final exam aim to assess the student’s knowledge and skills related to the analysis of religious pluralism in the world of sports, focusing particularly on the legal aspect.

Students with a valid disability certificate or a DSA diagnosis may request compensatory measures (e.g., extra time, concept maps, changes to written/oral exam formats) during exams, following the procedure outlined in the guidelines (p. 5) published here. For further information, students can contact the department’s designated instructor at: Isa.Fanlo@unige.it

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with a DSA certificate, disabilities, or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the coordinator, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it), and the course instructor at the beginning of the course. This will allow them to agree on teaching and exam methods that, while respecting the course objectives, take into account individual learning styles and provide appropriate compensatory tools. More information is available at the link: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/studenti-disabilità-informazioni-utili.

The seminars and activities that offer credits (CFU) are educational activities provided by the Department of Political and International Sciences within the “Other Activities” section to be included in the study plan. At the beginning of each academic year, the Department publishes a list of activities linked to each seminar on its website, allowing students to choose which seminars to include in their study plan, for a total of 3 CFU. These 3 CFU can be achieved by combining seminars from the same or different disciplines, at the student's discretion. Additionally, seminars and initiatives offering CFU can be selected as “Elective Activities.” The seminars and initiatives in Law and Religions, and Comparative Religious Law, explore specialized topics related to the relationship between state and religious rights, including in the sports sector. The list of seminars and initiatives offering CFU for this academic year is available on the Department’s website.