Sport and Disability
Introduction
Sport is a significant part of this world; it acts as a social construction (DePauw & Gavron, 1995). It offers individuals a time to socialise and build a relationship with each other. Individuals with disabilities have always been present in society, although they experienced exclusion and not recognised as a “normal” person. In terms of sport, mentally retarded persons were thought to not understand the rules of the sport and therefore were left out. Physically disabled were thought of not having the ability to participate and therefore they were excluded from sport participation.
In earlier times, a disability was defined as a person with a physical impairment. In today’s world, the preferred terminology is using the person first, for example, person with a disability or individual with a physical impairment. So people with disabilities were being respected and acknowledged by society. A person can be classified as being mentally disabled or physically disabled. Physically disabled means to have amputated limbs and intellectually disabled means that a person suffers from a mental, social, cultural and emotional state, which does not allow them to live normal lives because they do not have the appropriate life skills (Special Olympics, 2010).
For the past one hundred years, individuals with selected disabilities have participated in the sporting world, but these athletes have not received the recognition they deserve and more important, accepted as athletes. The sporting movement for individuals with disabilities has changed significantly over the past forty years. Public awareness has increased and as a result, more and more individuals with disabilities are confident participating in sport. Furthermore, sporting organisations developed programmes for athletes with disabilities with the intention of attracting more athletes to experience a whole new world. Sport as a whole or organised sport, had challenges that they needed to overcome.
Sport is a significant part of this world; it acts as a social construction (DePauw & Gavron, 1995). It offers individuals a time to socialise and build a relationship with each other. Individuals with disabilities have always been present in society, although they experienced exclusion and not recognised as a “normal” person. In terms of sport, mentally retarded persons were thought to not understand the rules of the sport and therefore were left out. Physically disabled were thought of not having the ability to participate and therefore they were excluded from sport participation.
In earlier times, a disability was defined as a person with a physical impairment. In today’s world, the preferred terminology is using the person first, for example, person with a disability or individual with a physical impairment. So people with disabilities were being respected and acknowledged by society. A person can be classified as being mentally disabled or physically disabled. Physically disabled means to have amputated limbs and intellectually disabled means that a person suffers from a mental, social, cultural and emotional state, which does not allow them to live normal lives because they do not have the appropriate life skills (Special Olympics, 2010).
For the past one hundred years, individuals with selected disabilities have participated in the sporting world, but these athletes have not received the recognition they deserve and more important, accepted as athletes. The sporting movement for individuals with disabilities has changed significantly over the past forty years. Public awareness has increased and as a result, more and more individuals with disabilities are confident participating in sport. Furthermore, sporting organisations developed programmes for athletes with disabilities with the intention of attracting more athletes to experience a whole new world. Sport as a whole or organised sport, had challenges that they needed to overcome.
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