Understanding parasport: an analysis of the differences between able-bodied and parasport from a sport policy perspective

Parasport is a growing field of study with many countries recognising the need to develop organisational structures in order to optimise the development of high-performance sport opportunities for Paralympic athletes. Policy development in this area is currently still under developed and a significant knowledge gap is apparent regarding the development of Paralympic athlete programmes, and the understanding of how to develop long-term athlete pathways. This study hereby aims to address this gap by identifying how elite sport policy approaches differ between able-bodied and parasport. Sixteen international Paralympic experts participated in comprehensive semi-structured interviews guided by the theoretical framework of the Sport Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success model. The results of this study suggest that a 'one-size-fits-all approach' does not exist in order to develop an effective parasport system. This study provides a framework illustrating the major differences between the able-bodied and parasport systems. Notably, this influences the way sport policies should be developed in order to generate awareness among sport policymakers and high-performance directors, in aid of helping them to understand parasport as a whole and its intricacies.