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Leveraging Parasport Events for Sustainable Community Participation
Laura Misener(1), David Legg(2), Gayle McPherson, David McGillivray(3)
(1)School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
(2) Dept. of Physical Education and Recreation Studies, Mount Royal University, Alberta, Canada
(3)School of Creative and Cultural Industries, University of West Scotland, Paisley, Scotland
PURPOSE
RATIONALE
METHODOLOGY
The aim of this research is to examine how the hosting of different forms of sport events for persons with a disability are
being leveraged to create opportunities for community participation, and influence community attitudes towards disability.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
➺Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability states that
persons with a disability should have the right to participate on an equal basis in community
life including recreational, leisure and sporting activities (UN, 2009).
➺Barriers include: need for assistance, inaccessible facilities and transportation, need for
specialized equipment, and community attitudinal misperceptions about disability
(HRSDC, 2010; WHO, 2011).
➺Hosting sporting events can offer an opportunity to access scarce resources to create
more accessible infrastructure (e.g. sport and recreation facilities, transportation), increase
supportive services (i.e. coaching, volunteers, programs), gain access to specialized
equipment, and potentially change attitudes about disability (Sherry et al., 2011).
➺Little to no empirical evidence supports the claims that attitudinal changes as a result of
hosting disability sport event (Misener et al., 2013)
➺Little is known about the legacy distinctions of integrated versus non-integrated events
Social Inclusion and Critical Disability Theory
➺Disrupting systemic discrimination based on ablest assumptions, institutions, and
structures that disadvantage persons with a disability
The cornerstones of social inclusion capture the essence of failed social structures which
disadvantage persons with a disability:
① Valued recognition, understanding, and respect;
② Human development in nurturing skills, capabilities, and life choices;
③ Proximity in terms of sharing physical and social spaces to reduce social distances between people;
④ Material well-being including the resources necessary to participate fully in community life.
Critical disability theory - removal of barriers to social inclusion and examines the ways in
which events are being used to devolve those structures to allow for greater levels of
community participation of persons with a disability.
➺ July 23-Aug 3, 2014
➺ Glasgow, Scotland
➺ 5 para-sports, 22 para-sport events
➺ Para-sport athletes integrated
➺ Legacy planning as a general process
➺ Aug 7 – Aug 14, 2015
➺ Toronto, Canada
➺ 15 para-sport events
➺ Para-sport athletes separated by time and space
➺ Legacy planning separate for Pan and Parapan Games
1. INTERVIEWS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSES: Compare and
contrast social legacy tactics, strategies, and programs
2. SCALE OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS PERSONS WITH A
DISABILITY (PRE, DURING, AND POST): Analyze
spectator, volunteer, and community members’ attitudes and
awareness of disability
3. CONCEPT TESTING: Framework for leveraging parasport
events to benefit community participation opportunities, and
influence attitudes
SELECTED REFERENCES:
1. Misener, L., Darcy, S., Legg, D. & Gilbert, K. (2013). Beyond Olympic Legacy: Understanding Paralympic Legacy through a Thematic Analysis. Journal of
Sport Management, 27, 329-341.
2. Sherry, E., Karg, A. & O’May, F. (2011). Social capital and sport events: spectator attitudinal change and the Homeless World Cup. Sport in Society, 14
(1), 111-125.
3. United Nations (2009). The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability. Available from
http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml.
4. Barnes, C. & Mercer, G. (2003). Disability. Cambridge: Polity.
5. LeClair, J. (2012). Disability in the global sport arena: A sporting chance. London: Routledge.