Disability in Sport

Sport has existed for centuries with hundreds of different types, athletes, and competitions. But although disabled people have existed for just as long, they have not always had the same opportunities in sport.

For example, the first modern olympics were held in april of 1896, however it wasn’t until over half a century later in 1960 that the first paralympics were held.

There are many types of disabilities So this is why the Paralympics have six main categories: amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, wheelchair, vision impairment, and others. Evidently, these disabilities also have different levels severity and some may have more than one disability from these categories. this is why it is important to make sure that para-sports are properly adapted, and thats why all athletes should have the support and opportunity to play and compete in sports.

It may not seem obvious to you, but there are many games and sport activities that disabled people can compete in. having a disability does not make you unable to do sports. Sports like goalball, seated volleyball, wheelchair tennis etc. have large audiences within the disabled community but these athletes receive minimal media coverage and respect compared to able-bodied sports.

All these questions lead to the question: what can we as a society do to sustain a complete inclusion of people with disabilities in sport and in our daily lives. Here are some links if you want to read further, and hopefully make a difference!