The Role of Sport in Promoting Social Development and Equity Through Governmental Strategies: A Scoping Review
Abstract
Objective
To systematically map and critically describe the existing scientific literature on the relationship between sport, social inclusion, and public policy, identifying the main thematic dimensions, methodological profile, strengths and limitations of the available evidence, and knowledge gaps relevant to sport policy and social development.
Methods
We conducted a scoping review following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. We searched the databases Web of Science, Scopus, and SportDiscus for peer-reviewed articles published in English and Spanish from 2007 to 2023. Search strategies used terms related to sport, social inclusion, and public policy. Following identification, screening, and eligibility steps, 26 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Data were extracted using an analytic matrix and analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis.
Results
Twenty‐six studies from 16 countries were included. Four thematic dimensions were identified: sport and social inclusion; sport public policies and social development; sport, health and social well-being; and challenges in the implementation of inclusive sport policies. The evidence base was methodologically heterogeneous and dominated by reviews, mixed-method, descriptive, qualitative, and observational quantitative approaches. No study in the extraction matrix was classified as experimental. The result is that the literature is more supportive of contextual mechanisms, associations, and implementation processes than of causal claims about broad societal impact. Key gaps were limited use of standardized outcomes and comparable estimates of effect, absence of long-term evaluation, and uneven geographical representation.
Conclusions
Evidence in the existing literature suggests that sport can contribute to social inclusion and community development when placed in supportive policy and organizational contexts. However, the strength of this conclusion is moderated by heterogeneous designs, limited causal evidence, and inconsistent evaluation of social outcomes. Future studies need to be rigorous longitudinal and comparative evaluations, with standardized reporting of outcomes and clear evaluation of policy implementation and sustainability.
© 2026 Julio Jalibb Pestana Mendoza, Jean Fernel Durango Cardoza, José Eduardo Gnecco Gutiérrez, Jhonny Javier Arroyo Martínez, Isaac Smith Ariza Solano, Ingrid Patricia Fonseca Franco, Jhonatan Camilo Peña Ibagon, published by University of Physical Education in Warsaw
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