The Paralympic Games Explained

Now in a fully revised and updated third edition, The Paralympic Games Explained is the leading introduction to the Paralympic Games, one of the largest multi-sport mega-events in the world. The book explores every key aspect of the Games, from the history and development of the Paralympic movement to the Games' economic and social impact. This new edition includes new data and research material from Paris 2024, Beijing 2022 and Tokyo 2020ne, and looks ahead to Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. It examines key themes in Paralympic studies including governance, sustainability, societal attitudes to disability and disability sport, media and marketing in disability sport, and the debates around the legacy of the Games. This edition also explores new theoretical developments in the analysis of disability, sport, and society, and presents ten new case studies of Paralympic nations, including France, Chile, Namibia, Samoa, and South Korea. With useful features included in every chapter, such as review questions, study activities, web links, and guides to further reading, this book is an essential text for any course on the Paralympic Games or disability sport, and invaluable reading for anybody with an interest in sport and society, sport history, sport management, mega-events, or disability and society.

Ian Brittain is an internationally recognised expert in the study of disability and Paralympic sport. He has formerly been an Executive Board member of the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation, was the Sports Coordinator for the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Games in Rio de Janeiro, and currently acts as Heritage Advisor to World Abilitysport. He has attended six of the last seven summer Paralympic Games, only missing Tokyo 2020ne due to COVID regulations, and was a Ceremonies Consultant for the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony. His research focuses upon sociological, historical, and sports management aspects of Paralympic and disability sport.

Introduction 1. The History and Development of the Paralympic Games 2. The Olympic Movement and the Paralympic Games 3. The Governance of Paralympic Sport 4. Disability and the Body 5. The Broader Social Issues of Disability within Society and their Impact on Sports Participation 6. Media, Marketing, and Disability Sport 7. Major Issues within the Paralympic Movement 8. Diversity at the Paralympic Games. 9. International Perspectives on Paralympic Participation 10. The Special Olympics, Intellectual Disability, and the Paralympic Games