Speakers
Description
In Sweden, as in many other European countries, there is a stated ambition to enforce equal conditions for sports participation, regardless of (dis)ability. Despite an awareness of current challenges and purposeful work at the sport organizational level, it is difficult to bring about a change in practice. The reasons for this inertia can be many, for example lack of knowledge and experience of adapting sports for parasport athletes and about inaccessible sports facilities. Another explanation is inability or unwillingness to challenge and change traditional notions and value systems about what “real” sport is and should be about and who counts as an athlete. In a current Swedish sport context, a major change is taking place towards increased inclusion of parasport athletes into National Sports Organisations (NSO). With respect to this change and from a Critical Disability Theory (CDT) perspective, this study investigates the understanding of inclusion and exclusion among key stakeholders in five Swedish NSO. The methodology in this study includes an intersectional perspective regarding social inclusion. Preliminary results indicate that the interviewees' focus is on individuals with various disabilities as the problem, rather than on how power- relations and the physical and social environment can be changed to promote increased diversity in sports. The CDT-perspective, brings attention to the entire organisation’s norms and power structures. This implies a transition from "they" and them" to a general review of the sport environment's norms and its consequences for present and future athletes, coaches and stakeholders.
