Among the most persecuted peoples in the world, Rroma (Gypsies) have sometimes struggled to retain their ethnic identity, and have suffered from a lack of formal education and high rates of illiteracy. This article examines the education and sport involvement of Rroma youth in Hungary. Results suggest that while Rroma youth are from severely disadvantaged backgrounds, their educational achievements are impressive. The sports in which Rroma youth are involved are generally similar to other Hungarian youth; however, the different rates of participation appear to be related both to differences in income and education and to ethnicity. Education and sports participation may well serve as vehicles for assimilating Rroma into the dominant Magyar (Hungarian) culture, but in schools that cater predominantly for Rroma students and include instruction in Rroma language and culture, they may also serve to consolidate ethnic differences and strengthen ethnic identity.
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