Jorge Knijnik

Jorge Knijnik was born in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's southernmost state. He moved to Sao Paulo with his family as a child, and began his love for football whilst watching Pele play on the Pacaembu stadium. 

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Jorge writes and researches on a number of topics, including:  sport in society, culture and history; gender and human rights in education; physical education pedagogies; drama studies; and fandom culture.   

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Jorge's current research examines the socialisation process within football fans in Greater Western Sydney and how football fandom has the potential to make a significant contribution to community cohesion and regeneration in the area. He is also involved in a number of projects that examine the political and cultural contradictory legacies of sports mega events in Brazil. 

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Jorge is an Associate Professor at the Western Sydney University (School of Education and Institute for Culture & Society), and currently lives in Sydney with his four children and wife, where he enjoys the beautiful beaches and his bike rides—but misses the Brazilian rhythms. 

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