The Impact of TAT International Football Cup (IFC) 2022 on Promoting Social Integration (interaction) among Immigrants players in Uusimaa (Helsinki) area.
Awoomie, Kofi (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023061524033
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023061524033
Tiivistelmä
The main aim of this research was to examine the impact or how Toiminnan Avulla Työelämää (TAT) International Football Cup (IFC) 2022 tournament promoted social integration (interaction) among immigrant players (people with different cultural and social backgrounds) in Uusimaa/Helsinki area. In addition, the study explored from the participants the means of how to improve the TAT IFC tournament. The research was assigned by TAT. Their responses would be considered for TAT’s IFC preparation for future decision making and improvement of the tournament in years to come.
The research was conducted using the mixed methods model because the research questions were to be analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Questionnaires were used as a research method, which included the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. Though, there were thousands of spectators who watched the tournament, the researcher used purposive sampling technique to select respondents; team officials either (Team Manager, TM or Team Coach, TC) and team captains were selected to answer these questionnaires because of their integral roles they played in their various teams and throughout the tournament. All the respondents were those who took part in the 2022 TAT International Football Cup held in Helsinki, Finland.
The respondents were asked to answer the research question: “To what extent team officials and players participating in the TAT IFC 2022 were satisfied with the relationship with other team players in tournament and how could the tournament be improved in the coming years”. The questionnaires critically explored the following segments or themes under the topic: personal impact and feelings, community inclusion and participation, football, and social interaction, creating community spirit (unity) among participants and family and children inclusion.
A total of 13 out of 14 responses were received from the participants to the quantitative questionnaires while four out of five qualitative questionnaires were answered. The response rate was highly positive, 92.86%. According to the research results, there was substantial evidence indicating that the respondents were highly satisfied that the TAT IFC 2022 impacted and promoted social cohesion (integration) in the form interactions among all participants of the tournament. There was also high indication from the interviewees that they wanted the tournament to be improved and continued.
Besides TAT, other NGOs and institutions who are interested using sports as means of social integration might use the results of this study to improve their operations and activities. Other cities in Finland where the sizes of immigrants’ numbers are growing rapidly can adopt and use this TAT summer tournament model to improve the participation level of immigrants’ activities.
The research was conducted using the mixed methods model because the research questions were to be analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Questionnaires were used as a research method, which included the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. Though, there were thousands of spectators who watched the tournament, the researcher used purposive sampling technique to select respondents; team officials either (Team Manager, TM or Team Coach, TC) and team captains were selected to answer these questionnaires because of their integral roles they played in their various teams and throughout the tournament. All the respondents were those who took part in the 2022 TAT International Football Cup held in Helsinki, Finland.
The respondents were asked to answer the research question: “To what extent team officials and players participating in the TAT IFC 2022 were satisfied with the relationship with other team players in tournament and how could the tournament be improved in the coming years”. The questionnaires critically explored the following segments or themes under the topic: personal impact and feelings, community inclusion and participation, football, and social interaction, creating community spirit (unity) among participants and family and children inclusion.
A total of 13 out of 14 responses were received from the participants to the quantitative questionnaires while four out of five qualitative questionnaires were answered. The response rate was highly positive, 92.86%. According to the research results, there was substantial evidence indicating that the respondents were highly satisfied that the TAT IFC 2022 impacted and promoted social cohesion (integration) in the form interactions among all participants of the tournament. There was also high indication from the interviewees that they wanted the tournament to be improved and continued.
Besides TAT, other NGOs and institutions who are interested using sports as means of social integration might use the results of this study to improve their operations and activities. Other cities in Finland where the sizes of immigrants’ numbers are growing rapidly can adopt and use this TAT summer tournament model to improve the participation level of immigrants’ activities.