PARALYMPIC SPORTS IN THE USA27 JUNE 2011

2PARALYMPIC SPORTS IN THE USA

Joe Walsh

Managing Director, Paralympics

United States Olympic Committee

Colorado Springs, Colorado USA

3PARALYMPIC SPORTS IN THE USA

• Benefits of sports• Importance of these benefits for persons with disabilities• Governance and responsibilities• National direction – responsive to readiness

– Story #1: Katie Maneen• Local programs – responsive to environment

– Story #2: Christina Kouros• Multi-faceted, flexible approach

4BENEFITS OF SPORTS

• Sport enhances children’s psychological well being through friendships, creativity, identity, and purpose in life.

• Regular physical activity fosters independence, coping abilities, competitiveness, and teamwork.

• Through sports children are empowered with “I can” rather than discouraged by “you can’t.”

– Murphy. Pediatrics. 121; 1057. 2008.

5IMPORTANCE OF THESE BENEFITS

• Girls with disabilities in organized sport have goals including college, the Paralympics and varsity athletics.

• Girls in organized disability sport have role models.• Sports = choice where therapy = mandate

– Anderson, et al. Journal of Leisure Research. Vol. 40, No. 2, 2008.

• 16% of students with a disability (10-18 yrs) participated in school sports vs. 45% overall.

• 47% of students with a disability participated in weekend/club sports vs. 74% overall.

– Bailey. Educational Review, Vol. 57, No. 1, February 2005.

6GOVERNANCE DIRECTION

• In 1998, the U.S. Congress amended the U.S. Olympic Committee charter to give USOC jurisdiction over and responsibility for Paralympic sport in the USA.

• The amendments emphasized inclusion of athletes with disabilities in mainstream competition where feasible.

• Various scholars have argued that visibility of successful athletes with disabilities in mainstream competition could transform negative stereotypes about disability and persons with disabilities.

– Lord, et al. College of William and Mary Law School Faculty Publications. Paper 108 (2009).

7NATIONAL DIRECTION

• USOC is responsive to many factors in managing national programs in Paralympic sports.

• Story #1 – Katie Maneen– Katie uses a leg prosthetic– Runs on her college track team– Last week ran for first time against other amputees at

U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championship

8LOCAL PROGRAMS

• USOC encourages and supports community based sports for persons with disabilities through Paralympic Sport Clubs and through member organizations such as: – Disabled Sports USA– National Recreation and Parks Association

• Story #2 – Christina Kouros– Christina races cross country skiing in a sit ski– Christina skis on her high school team and now the

rules for her State allow student-athletes to use sit skis.

9PARALYMPIC SPORTS IN THE USA

• Benefit the individuals and society• Physical benefits are easiest to attain• Social benefits come from “disability sport” and inclusion• USOC centralized leadership of Paralympic sport in 2001• USOC promotes a multi-faceted, flexible approach• Sometimes it is the high school athlete, not the USOC that

changes the system.