Equal Abilities - the Swedish Parasport Federation and the Inclusion Process
2021 (English)In: ISAPA 2021. Quality partnerships in Adapted Physical Activity: Stronger Together!: Book of abstracts / [ed] Kwok Ng, Pauli Rintala, Aada Kandzia, Anni Lindeman, Jyväskylä, Finland: University of Jyväskylä , 2021, p. 88-88, article id 64Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
Aim: A major organizational change is currently taking place in Swedish sports, where people with disabilities (PWD) are leaving the Parasport Federation for mainstream sport within the Swedish Sport Confederation. The aim of this study is to map the expectations of the ongoing process among stakeholders within the Swedish Parasport Federation. Central is also to identify any distinction in expectations between the Parasport Athletes (PA) versus stakeholders.
Method: This study is empirically descriptive, based on a questionnaire with 130 respondents connected to the Swedish Parasport Federation. It was analyzed through independent samples t-tests. This contribution is a part of an extensive investigation of the organizational change in the Swedish Sport Confederation regarding sports for disabled.
Results: The results indicate some factors that can enable, or prevent, successful inclusion in sport organizations. For instance, the respondents expect that inclusion can facilitate for people with and without disabilities to perform sport together and act as role models to each other, and the respondents also think that recruitment into sport activities will increase after the organizational change. Although, there are some concerns because a significant number of the respondents fear a worsened economic situation for the PA and some fear lack of accessible facilities and equipment due to the organizational change. The results indicate no large divergence in how the PA and stakeholders view the opportunities and obstacles with inclusion.
Conclusion: To consider, respondents give answers to something that is not yet a reality for them and their expectations need to be seen in the light of the information they have regarding the ongoing organizational change. Consequently, expectations reported in this study do not capture a complete picture of opportunities and obstacles but some concerns are put forward that can impact the success of inclusion in a future sport organization and these should be recognized early in the process.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Jyväskylä, Finland: University of Jyväskylä , 2021. p. 88-88, article id 64
Keywords [en]
Keywords: physical activity, Parasport, athletes, sport organization
National Category
Pedagogy
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-187229OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-187229DiVA, id: diva2:1591435
Conference
International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity, ISAPA 2021, June 15-18, 2021, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
2021-09-062021-09-062021-09-07Bibliographically approved