Paralympic legacy as seen through the lenses of spectators with physical disabilities: a case of the PyeongChang Paralympic Games

ABSTRACT

In this qualitative study, the experiences of sport spectatorship by people with disabilities who watched the PyeongChang Paralympics were explored to add to the body of knowledge surrounding the legacies and leverage of major mega-sports events, in which the experiences of people with disabilities in non-western contexts have been largely overlooked. Fifteen adults with physical disabilities of Asian origin or heritage participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews concerning their responses to observing the para-games. Analysis of the interview data yielded five thematic reactions: (1) desire to participate, (2) sense of in-group pride, (3) self-efficacy, (4) disability sports awareness, and (5) social inclusion. Conceptual and practical perspectives are discussed along with suggestions for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Sports event legacy
• Paralympic legacy
• Paralympics
• PyeongChang Paralympics
• para-sports
• sports spectators
• people with disabilities
• physically disabled

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).