Educational implications of sports symbols

The world of sports goes beyond sporting practice. A symbolic universe that is loaded with meaning surrounds sporting events. The clubs, the emblems, the team kits, the stadiums and the merchandise create emotions among fans and enable them to associate with the values of the social group represented by the team. This situation presents two challenges to educators. First, they can take advantage of sports symbols to improve the coexistence, integration and cohesion of the students within society. Secondly, they can raise awareness of the use of these symbols by ideological, economic and media powers, and thus foster a critical approach that may reduce the hazards of this potential manipulation.