To appear in : “Sports Governance, Development and Corporate Responsibility” Edited by Barbara Segaert, Marc Theeboom, Christiane Timmerman, Bart Vanreusel Routledge. Discourses on integration and interaction in a martial arts club Lian Malai Madsen University of Copenhagen 1. Introduction A recurrent theme in the public debate in contemporary Western Europe is cultural differences between ethnic minorities and majority populations. In the Danish debate, media presentations and political contributions regarding cultural diversity often involve stereotypical images of minority youth as a societal problem. According to the dominant discursive constructions by media and politicians, the solution to problems related to minority youth (such as educational underachievement or participation in criminal gang activities) is better integration. In addition, it is a widespread assumption among Danish politicians and practitioners in leisure associations that participation in organised recreational activities and sports clubs strengthens integration of culturally or socially marginalised youth into society (e.g. Anderson 2003, 2005, 2006, Boeskov & Ilkjær 2005, Agergaard 2008, Madsen 2008). This ethnographic and interactional study of identity work among children and adolescents in a martial arts club in Copenhagen (Madsen 2008) contributes insights of relevance to a discussion of such assumptions. Matters of linguistic conduct are central to discourses on cultural differences and integration. According to the dominating public and political perceptions of integration, cultural and linguistic minorities are required to learn the majority language and adapt to majority cultural practices to be