Sport clubs became lifelines for vulnerable communities during the Covid pandemic, new research by the University of Stirling has shown.
The study found many groups transformed their role from sport providers into critical sources of social support during the public health crisis.
Led by Dr Claudio Rocha, Senior Lecturer in Sport, and co-authored by Dr Jennie Morgan, Senior Lecturer in Heritage, the study explores how small, community sports clubs (CSOs) in Brazilian favelas responded to the Covid pandemic, and whether their actions helped communities cope and recover.
Based on interviews with 13 sport managers across four favela regions, the research found that rather than shutting down when sport activities were halted by public health restrictions, organisations adapted rapidly.
With limited access to technology and infrastructure, online delivery was not viable. Instead, CSOs pivoted to meet urgent needs – distributing food parcels, sharing public health information, transporting residents to vaccination centres, and forming partnerships with NGOs and local groups.
Dr Rocha said: "Sports clubs in some of the world's most deprived urban communities can act as a critical social safety net during crises – stepping in where governments do not.
"Our research showed that organisations in Rio de Janeiro favelas stepped up during the Covid crisis, delivering food, supporting public health efforts, and filling critical gaps left by government services.
"In doing so, they didn't just survive, they became more trusted and embedded in their communities, creating a virtuous cycle where communities supported them in return.
"We also found that poorer communities are far more exposed to the damage extreme emergencies cause, yet the very organisations doing the most to protect them are often excluded from the academic and policy conversation around crisis management.
"Our research has real implications for how policymakers should think about supporting such communities before the next emergency hits – whether a pandemic, flood, or economic shock.
"Policymakers should recognise and fund community sports organisations in deprived areas not only as sport providers, but also as essential emergency infrastructure, meaning that when the next crisis hits, the most vulnerable communities have a stronger, better-resourced network of local organisations ready to hold them together."
The research extends stakeholder theory of crisis management by recognising CSO managers themselves as affected stakeholders. Many faced personal hardship during the crisis yet continued to lead community responses.
The study suggests resilience develops in stages – starting with individuals, then organisations, and ultimately the wider community.
The findings highlight three key drivers of community resilience: strong leadership and responsibility among managers, the ability to fill gaps left by limited public sector support, and a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
The research also underlines the broader significance of CSOs as part of the social safety net in deprived communities. In the absence of sufficient government support, these organisations became central to crisis response, demonstrating their capacity to mobilise resources and protect vulnerable populations.
The efforts made by CSOs strengthened trust and cooperation, with many residents later giving back to the organisations that had supported them.
Researchers argue that policymakers should better recognise and support CSOs – not only as sport providers but as essential emergency infrastructure. Strengthening partnerships between governments and community organisations could significantly improve preparedness and response in future crises.
While the findings are grounded in the specific context of Brazilian favelas, they offer valuable lessons for similarly disadvantaged communities worldwide.
The study Managing community sport organisations in favelas during crisis: impacts on community resilience was published in the journal Social Sciences.
It was funded by Stirling Crucible, a development opportunity created by the University of Stirling for its researchers.
