Application of a prototype for social inclusion in social sports projects in Montevideo, Uruguay (2021–2022). Development and analysis of the PSDMN-2019 prototype in combat sports

This article presents a process of the application and evaluation of the SSPMN-2019 prototype, designed to enhance social inclusion in Social Sports Projects (SSP) in the Malvín Norte neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay. Through an ethnographic and participatory approach, the model was implemented in three SSPs focused on judo, taekwondo, and boxing. The prototype addresses the organizational and pedagogical dimensions, with the aim of building inclusion processes through sports practice. The results reveal contextual tensions – such as volunteering vs. professionalization, free play vs. structured play, or competitive vs. social logics – that affect inclusion processes. Furthermore, it is emphasized that sport alone does not guarantee inclusion; rather, it depends on robust institutional and educational frameworks, sensitive to the intersectionalities and specificities of the territory. The study concludes that SSPs can foster social inclusion when they integrate technical training, organizational sustainability, and community ties, promoting citizenship and a sense of belonging. Finally, it is proposed to replace the ‘pedagogical’ approach with an ‘educational’ one, understanding inclusion as a multidimensional process that requires the construction of situated and collaborative models. Emphasis is also placed on the institutional as a broader dimension than the organizational.