IMPROVING ATHLETES' PERFORMANCE BY PROMOTING AN ETHICAL AND INCLUSIVE APPROACH TO SPORT

Giulia Amato, Mariam Maisuradze, Alessandro Persico, Francesca Latino, Francesco Tafuri

Abstract


The Paralympic Movement has evolved significantly over the past few decades, reflecting advances in sports science, technology, and inclusive policies. This Article explores the intersection of ethics, inclusion, and performance improvement in Paralympic Sports, analyzing the key challenges and opportunities associated with its development. Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, in particular Goal 10 (Reducing Inequalities), Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), this study highlights the need for an equitable sports ecosystem that provides equitable access to resources and opportunities for all athletes.


Keywords


port; Athletic Performance; Adaptive Technology.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Alexander, D., Bloom, G. A., & Taylor, S. L. (2020). Female Paralympic athletes’ experiences of coach–athlete relationships. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 37(1), 21-38.

Bailey, R., Misener, L., & Darcy, S. (2020). Inclusive Sport Development: Policy and Practice. Routledge.

Bailey, S. (2018). Athlete development and the Paralympic movement: A critical review. Sport in Society, 21(3), 409-423.

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York, NY: W. H. Freeman.

Bäumler, M., Göpfert, B., van Drongelen, S., et al. (2021). Real-time feedback training and its impact on performance in Paralympic sports: A systematic review. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 20(2), 245-257.

Beckman, E., Tweedy, S., & Connick, M. (2021). Paralympic sport: Classification, technology, and inclusion. Routledge.

Brittain, I., & Beacom, A. (2018). The Paralympic Movement: Empowerment or Side Show? Routledge.

Brüggemann, G., Arampatzis, A., & Zange, J. (2022). Biomechanics of prosthetic running limbs: Advances in sports science and engineering. Sports Biomechanics, 21(4), 456-478.

Burkett, B. (2020). Technology in Paralympic sport: Performance enhancement or essential adaptation? International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 15(2), 234-248.

Darcy, S., Lock, D., & Taylor, T. (2017). Enabling inclusive sport participation: Effects of disability and support needs on constraints to sport participation. Leisure Sciences, 39(1), 20-41.

De Bosscher, V., Shibli, S., Westerbeek, H., & Van Bottenburg, M. (2015). Successful elite sport policies: An international comparison of the sports policy factors leading to international sporting success (SPLISS 2.0). Meyer & Meyer Sport.

De Bosscher, V., Sotiriadou, P., & van Bottenburg, M. (2013). Competitive balance and funding distribution in Paralympic sports: A global perspective. European Sport Management Quarterly, 13(4), 387-404.

DePauw, K. P., & Gavron, S. J. (2005). Disability sport. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Dollar, A. M., & Herr, H. (2020). Powered exoskeletons for assistive mobility: Technological developments and future potential. Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation, 17(1), 56-72.

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York, NY: Random House.

Dyer, B. (2022). Wearable technology and athlete monitoring in Paralympic sports. Journal of Sports Technology, 10(1), 112-129.

Fitzgerald, H. (2022). Disability, Sport and Society: A Student Introduction. Routledge.

Fletcher, D., & Sarkar, M. (2012). A grounded theory of psychological resilience in Olympic champions. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13(5), 669-678.

Frossard, L. (2019). Prosthetics and assistive technology: The challenge of equity in sport accessibility. Disability & Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 14(5), 389-401.

Frossard, L., O’Riordan, A., & Smeathers, J. (2018). Biomechanics and prosthetics in Paralympic sport: Advancements and ethical considerations. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 42(1), 56-64.

Goosey-Tolfrey, V., Mason, B., & Burkett, B. (2021). Wheelchair sports performance: Advances in equipment and training. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 38(3), 214-228.

Hanstad, D. V., Smith, A., & Waddington, I. (2008). The establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency: A study of the international response to doping in sport. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 43(3), 243-271.

Hargreaves, J. (2000). Heroines of sport: The politics of difference and identity. London, UK: Routledge.

Highsmith, M. J., Kahle, J. T., & Miro, R. M. (2020). Microprocessor prosthetic technology: Enhancing mobility for para-athletes. Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, 32(2), 98-110.

Howe, P. D. (2019). The Cultural Politics of the Paralympic Movement. Routledge.

Kim, M. S., Martin, J. J., & Noh, S. (2020). The relationship between sport participation and psychological well-being among Korean Paralympic athletes. Disability & Health Journal, 13(3), 100886.

Legg, D., & Emes, C. (2021). Paralympic Legacies: Creativity and Change in Sport, Arts and Culture. McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Legg, D., & Steadward, R. (2011). The Paralympic movement and sports governance: Progress, challenges, and future directions. Journal of Sport Management, 25(4), 339-354.

Levine, D., McElroy, K., & Sayers, S. (2018). Motion analysis and adaptive sport performance: Emerging trends. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 34(3), 245-258.

Macdougall, H., O'Halloran, P., Sherry, E., & Shields, N. (2015). Needs and strengths of Australian Para-athletes: Identifying their subjective psychological well-being. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 19, 89-97.

Martin, J. J. (2012). Psychological aspects of disability sport. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Martin, J. J. (2017). Handbook of disability sport and exercise psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Misener, L., & Darcy, S. (2020). Managing Disability Sport: From International to Grassroots Levels. Routledge.

Nolan, L. (2008). Carbon fiber prosthetic limbs and running biomechanics: Implications for performance. Journal of Biomechanics, 41(9), 2121-2126.

Nolan, L. (2021). Prosthetic limb biomechanics and the impact on elite para-athletics. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 37(2), 67-81.

Pape, K. (2012). Media portrayal of disabled female athletes: Issues of representation and visibility. Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 36(3), 317-339.

Perkins, D. D., & Zimmerman, M. A. (1995). Empowerment theory, research, and application. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23(5), 569-579.

Pullen, E., Shapiro, D. R., & Pitts, B. G. (2020). Sport and Disability: From Paralympic Games to Grassroots Sport. Routledge.

Rees, T., et al. (2016). The effects of social support on resilience in sports: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 27, 151-159.

Scholz, J., Shapiro, D. R., & Pitts, B. G. (2021). Adaptive Sport Governance and Policy. Routledge.

Schunk, D. H., & Pajares, F. (2005). Competence perceptions and academic functioning. Educational Psychologist, 40(2), 85-94.

Sherrill, C. (2004). Adapted physical activity, recreation, and sport: Crossdisciplinary and lifespan. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.

Shi, D., Zhu, H., & Wang, Y. (2021). Exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation and sports training: Trends and future perspectives. BioMedical Engineering OnLine, 20(1), 91-107.

Steadward, R. D., Wheeler, G. D., & Watkinson, E. J. (2019). Adapted Physical Activity. University of Alberta Press.

Tweedy, S. M., & Bourke, J. (2019). IPC classification: Advancements and remaining challenges. Sports Medicine, 49(5), 757-769.

Tweedy, S. M., & Vanlandewijck, Y. C. (2011). International Paralympic Committee position stand—background and scientific principles of classification in Paralympic sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(4), 259-269.

Ungar, M. (2013). Resilience, trauma, context, and culture. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 14(3), 255-266.

United Nations. (2015). Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Retrieved from https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal5

United Nations. (2021). Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal9.

Vallerand, R. J. (2007). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in sport. Handbook of Sport Psychology, 3, 59-83.

Vanlandewijck, Y., & Thompson, W. (Eds.). (2011). The paralympic athlete: Handbook of sports medicine and science. John Wiley & Sons.

Vanlandewijck, Y., & Thompson, W. R. (2020). Handbook of sports medicine and science: Paralympic sports. Wiley-Blackwell.

Wareham, Y., Burkett, B., & Innes, P. (2020). The impact of adaptive sports on self-perception and empowerment in female athletes. Disability & Society, 35(4), 523-542.

Weedon, G. (2023). Paralympic Sport and Social Inclusion. Palgrave Macmillan.

Zimmerman, M. A. (2000). Empowerment theory: Psychological, organizational, and community levels of analysis. Handbook of Community Psychology, 43-63.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.32043/gsd.v9i1.1283

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025 ITALIAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH EDUCATION, SPORT AND INCLUSIVE DIDACTICS

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Italian Journal of Health Education, Sports and Inclusive Didactics 
ISSN printed: 2532-3296