Building Bridges Through Sport: Syrian Refugee Children’s Integration Experiences in Turkey

This study explores Syrian refugee children’s sports experiences in Istanbul’s municipal centers, proposing a contextual integration framework (CIF) that incorporates Turkey’s temporary-protection status and urban dynamics. A qualitative case study with 20 children (ages 11–20) and five coaches used semistructured interviews and surveys, analyzed via reflexive thematic analysis with member checking. Five themes emerged: familial capital as enabler/constraint; sports as identity sites; coach mediation; linguistic/social bridging; and structural barriers. Findings highlight urban opportunities amid vulnerabilities, recommending multilevel interventions, family engagement, trauma-informed coaching, and policy reforms addressing economic precarity.