Social Integration of Adapted Sports Athletes in Athletics

Abstract

Sport, one of the biggest cultural agencies in a society that seeks to be fair and egalitarian, increasingly appears as an important catalyst for the promotion of equality and social inclusion. In the same way, adapted sport modalities are considered to contribute significantly to the improvement of the functionality, social autonomy and quality of life of individuals with disabilities. In this context, the main aim of this study was to verify the influence of the practice of athletics on the social integration of adapted sports athletes. The study was carried out with 5 athletes, 1 woman and 4 men, belonging to the Portuguese Paralympic Committee, aged 28 to 46 (M = 37.20; DP = 7.30 years). Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews. Content analysis showed that participation in adapted sport had increased athletes’ autonomy and self-reliance, and had helped them to recognize their potential, limitations and values. Likewise, their participation in adapted sport had improved their social integration, easing their active and autonomous involvement in different spheres of social life.