Towards a System Theoretical Understanding of the Parasport Context

Abstract

Contextual factors are fundamental but often overlooked elements of parasport that can introduce various complexities within the parasport system. The purpose of this paper is to identify and categorize contextual factors that influence the parasport system and to examine the extent to which these factors influence the development of para-athletes’ pathways. Drawing from a system theoretical perspective, this research uses data gathered from 32 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders of the Brazilian Paralympic sports system. Thematic coding resulted in the identification of nine main themes that constitute the contextual factors of the Brazilian parasport system. The findings confirm that insofar as parasport is embedded in the complex cultural and national environment, it is not possible to understand parasport and the para-athlete trajectories without understanding the country’s particular context with respect to disability. This paper thus provides insights toward better understanding the relationship between the diversity within the parasport systems and the socio-cultural context of a country.

对残疾人体育背景的系统理论认识

在残疾人体育中, 尽管背景因素是基本要素, 却经常被忽视。背景因素会给残疾人体育制度带来各种复杂因素。本文目的是对影响残疾人体育制度的背景因素进行识别且分类, 并检验这些因素对残疾运动员的发展路径的影响程度。本研究从系统理论的角度入手, 研究数据采集自32场半组织模式的访谈, 访谈参与者都是巴西残奥会体育制度的相关者。通过主题编码可以识别组成巴西残疾人体育制度背景因素的9大要素。研究结果证实, 在复杂的文化和国家环境下, 如果不了解巴西在残疾方面的特定背景, 就不可能了解残疾人体育以及残疾运动员的发展路径。因此, 本文为更好地理解残疾人体育制度内的多样性与国家的社会文化背景之间的关系提出了一些见解。

Keywords:

• Contextual factors
• parasport systems
• systems theory
• para-athletes’ pathways
• Brazilian Paralympic sport

关键词:

• 背景因素
• 残疾人体育制度
• 系统理论
• 残疾运动员发展路径
• 巴西残奥会

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB) for their support.

Notes

1 The term ‘parasport’, which is used throughout this paper, is defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as “all sport for athletes with an impairment whether they feature on the Paralympic program or not”.

2 The classification system determined by the IPC aims to create fairness in the competitions through the categorization of classes by the degree of activity limitation resulting from the athlete’s impairment. The classes determines which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped together for competition (IPC, 2015).

3 Source: CIA World Factbook, 2012; GDP/cap in US$.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jacqueline Martins Patatas

Jacqueline Martins Patatas is a Doctoral Researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium, working at the Faculty of Physical Education. Her research comprehends topics as sport management applied to parasports and para-athletes career development. In her doctoral research, Jacqueline is concentrating on identifying factors that influence the development of para-athletes’ pathways.

Veerle De Bosscher

Veerle De Bosscher (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Physical Education of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. She has established and coordinates a worldwide international network on research in high-performance sport, called SPLISS (Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success). Her research has resulted in more than 120 publications in the most respected and highest ranked sport management and other journals.

Sebastiaan De Cocq

Sebastiaan De Cocq is a Doctoral Researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium, working at the Faculty of Physical Education. His research interests comprehend the societal value of elite sport. In his doctoral research, Sebastiaan specifically addresses if, to what extent and when elite sports can inspire the mass public to participate in sports.

Shaundre Jacobs

Shaundre Jacobs is a Doctoral Researcher within Vrije Universiteit Brussel’s Faculty of Physical Education, Belgium and Lecturer at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Her research focuses on identifying factors that influence the South African elite sporting system.

David Legg

David Legg (Ph.D.) is a Professor at the Department of Health and Physical Education of Mount Royal University, Calgary, Canada. He is chair of Adapted Physical Activity and Sport Management and is a former President for the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Currently, he is a Member of the International Paralympic Committee's Sport Science Committee.