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.
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.
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.
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.
