Leveraging Parasports Events for Sustainable

Community Participation

Professor Gayle McPhersonUniversity of the West of

Scotland

Laura Misener, Western University

David Legg, Mount Royal University

Gayle McPherson & David McGillivray, University of West Scotland

Leveraging Parasport Events for Sustainable Community Participation

Research Aim:

To examine how the hosting of different forms of sport events for persons with a disability are being leveraged to create opportunities for community participation, and influence community attitudes towards disability

Research Objectives

Compare and contrast social legacy tactics, strategies, and programs

Analyze spectator, volunteer, and community members’ attitudes and awareness of disability

Framework for leveraging parasport events to benefit community participation opportunities, and influence attitudes

Glasgow 2014 – accessibility volunteers

Rationale

Article 30 of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability states that persons with a disability should have the right to participate on an equal basis in community life including recreational, leisure and sporting activities (UN, 2009)

But barriers include need for assistance, inaccessible facilities and transportation, the need for specialized equipment, and community attitudinal misperceptions about disability (HRSDC, 2010; WHO, 2011)

Hosting sporting events can offer an opportunity to: access scarce resources to create more accessible infrastructure

(e.g. sport and recreation facilities, transportation) increase supportive services (i.e. coaching, volunteers, programs) gain access to specialized equipment, and potentially change attitudes about disability (Sherry et al., 2011)

However, little empirical evidence exists supporting these claims (Darcy & Appleby, 2011) and our project seeks to address this gap

Conceptual framework

Disability is socially constructed in relation to broader societal structures - inaccessible buildings and transport, discriminatory attitudes, and negative cultural stereotypes are ‘disabling’ people with impairments (WHO, 2011; Barnes & Mercer, 2003)

The social model frames disability as a complex political and social creation based on barriers, prejudice, and exclusion created by society (purposely or inadvertently)

This study uses a critical disability lens to explore exclusionary social structures and examine the ways in which events are being used to devolve those structures to allow for greater levels of community participation of persons with a disability

Sport Event Legacy

Extensive research exploring the immediate impacts on host cities/regions of hosting large-scale events (Ritchie, 2004; Hall & Hodges, 1996; Spilling, 1998)

Now more focus on the long-term impacts of these events (Dickson et al, 2011; Foley, McGillivray & McPherson, 2011; Preuss 2007; Smith, 2009) - referred to as event ‘legacies’

Economic impact work now complemented with research investigating how these events can also positively impact community development and broader social outcomes:

empowering disadvantaged groups enhancing local community infrastructure, and increased community and sport participation

Emphasis on sustainable social legacies of events to ensure broader community benefits

Parasport event legacies

Theoretical support for the premise that hosting the parasport events have some positive impact on community infrastructural accessibility and enhancing disability awareness (Cashman and Darcy, 2007; Legg and Gilbert, 2010)

Lack of empirical evidence is compromising the effectiveness of any strategies aimed to create social legacies from these events (Weed & Dowse, 2009)

‘‘events and the opportunities they present are merely the seed capital; what hosts do with that capital is

the key to realizing sustainable longer-term legacies” (O’Brien, 2006: p. 258)

Glasgow 2014 & ParaPan Am Games 2015

➺ July 23-Aug 3, 2014➺Glasgow, Scotland➺5 parasports, 22 parasport medal events➺Athletics, Swimming, Powerlifting, Lawn Bowls

and Track Cycling➺Parasport athletes integrated➺Legacy planning as a general process

➺Aug 7 – Aug 14, 2015➺Toronto, Canada➺15 parasport events➺Parasport athletes separated by time and space➺Legacy planning separate for Pan and Parapan Games

Research MethodologyType of Evidence Year of Data

CollectionExample Glasgow 2014 Example Pan American

Games 2015

Documentation 2013-2016 Bid DocumentGlasgow City Council/Scottish Legacy Framework, SDS Social Inclusion Model

Bid DocumentPlaying for Keeps Strategy Evaluation Reports

Physical Artifacts 2013-2016 Media ReportsMarketing and Promotional Materials (Brochures, posters)

Media ReportsMarketing and Promotional Materials (Brochures, posters)

Direct Observation 2014-2015 Observation of Glasgow 2014 sport venues and live zones

Tour Toronto Pan Am ParkVisit CIBC Pan and Para Pan Athletes Village

Semi-structured Interviews 2013-2016 CEO, Glasgow 2014; Mgr of Accessibility G2014; Transport Scotland; CGS; Head of Engagement & Legacy G2014 etc

Chair of Organizing Committee TO 2015Lead of Diversity and Inclusion TO 2015

Targeted Interviews: On-site Surveys w/ volunteers & spectators & post Games surveys

2014-2015 Scale of Attitudes towards Disabled PersonsGlasgow Household Survey

Scale of Attitudes towards Disabled Persons

Fieldwork in Glasgow

Pre-Event Fieldwork Documentary analysis undertaken of strategic plans for Glasgow 2014

legacy ambitions and media coverage 15 strategic interviews conducted with key stakeholders from OC,

national and local government and disability sport organisations SADP undertaken with Games volunteers pre-training (c. 2878 responses)

– repeated post Games Disability attitude Qs circulated to community members via Glasgow

Household Survey (March 2014) – repeated in 2015

During the Event Fieldwork SADP undertaken with spectators during Games time and online (c 900

reponses) Direct Observation at Games Venues (5 venues where elite parasport

athletes were performing)

Post Event Fieldwork SADP will be undertaken again with Games Volunteers Post event interviews with key stakeholders Possible further research to determine sustained participation at club

level

Fieldwork in Glasgow accessible seating for Swimming

Interim findings cont.

Glasgow 2014 Ltd

Emphasis on quantity and quality of parasport competition (22 medal events)

Evidence of ‘evangelic’ leadership in the sphere of parasport and wider advocacy for disability issues:

CEO & Head of Sport experienced & powerful advocates Designated policies, plans and training programme (including

volunteers) foreground accessibility, inclusion and equality – it’s just the right thing to do (CEO, G2014)

Appointment of Engagement & Legacy Officer, Accessibility & Inclusion Manager (venues, transport, urban realm), Accessibility Reference Group (users – although difficulty with outcomes for this group)

BUT, recognition of Games delivery responsibility and limits of legacy expectations:

We liquidate and wrap up the company in just a year’s time. We do enable it (legacy), we do support it, we do feed the beast…so it’s important that decisions we make have a direct impact on the success (CEO, G2014)

LEXI – parasport classification explained

Interim findings cont.

Stakeholder groups

Hope that the physical accessibility of the venues…may encourage people to come along and go to these places again (Accessibility & Inclusion Mgr, G2014)

However, the absence of ‘specific’, ‘identifiable’ and ‘resourced’ strategies, tactics and programmes beyond the OC mitigates against social legacies being secured

Knowledge transfer requirement of CGF fails to account for host city/nation needs and opportunities – missed opportunity to embed learning locally and nationally (e.g. secondments, debriefs, dissemination)

The Games provide role models and media coverage BUT choice of para-sports does not map easily onto host country sport participation or development pathways

Tried to ensure that choice of events would be sustainable for the Gold Coast and ensure more para-athlete participation (Head of Sport, Glasgow Life)

Interim findings cont.

Stakeholder groups

Commonwealth Games Scotland sought to secure agreement with the general counsel for Commonwealth Games Federations that para-athletes would know 3 years in advance which para-sport events were included so that it gave them the same chance as any other athlete to train for the competition (Chair of CGS, 2014).

Host City Volunteers were funded and proposed (in a similar way to London) to populate and help with the visitor experience in the city but also to deal with the under representation of volunteers in the Clydesider roles (Mgr, host volunteer and citizenship manager, Glasgow Life).

For volunteers with a disability, the welfare element became an important issue, how do they get home at night? how long are the shift patterns? Need to address and ensure the welfare of our volunteers.

Accessibility Volunteers

Interim findings cont.

Observation at Venues

All venues had accessible parking for those that booked in advance. Accessible seating in venue was 1.5 times the IPC recommended level.

Some events didn’t have many athletes meeting the qualifying times – is this an issue of commonweath countries or development money in small countries

Explanation of events was generally positive with lexi showing - audible, visual and subtitles on large screens. There were good visual access at all events. However, the explanation of a para-sport event and the classifications was not consistent at every venue or even at event to event

Knowledge of audience at Athletics events seemed greater than those at swimming for example, but the on screen explanations at swimming was good. There was no real explanation at lawn bowls, (Lexi on screen after the event had started) unless you had asked for the audio – which would have been great for everyone as there were four events on at once

Accessibility teams at each venues to assist those with a disability but often a long way round

Signage at times, wasn’t consistent or that great – but many volunteers to assist

Interim findings cont. – policy issues

The Scottish Government, through Education Scotland, has provided Scottish Disability Sport with £125,000 to offer both PE and classroom teachers across Scotland access to training which will provide them with the knowledge, skills and experience to fully include disabled young people in PE and sport.

This PE Disability Inclusion Training programme is giving up to 1,000 teachers in Scottish schools the knowledge, skills and experience to include disabled young people fully in quality PE and sports provision by 2014 and is now a key part of the development of coaches in disability sport.

SDS are keen to ensure that the sport inclusion model from Scottish Disability Sport is widely adopted and incorporated into relevant continuing professional development for those working with young people in sport.

£6 million investment in para-sport facility post Glasgow 2014

Libby Clegg winning the 100m T12

Conclusions and next steps

Early stages but evidence to date indicates growing recognition of importance of social legacies in the activities of strategic agencies, including Glasgow 2014 OC

Leadership is vital but baton needs to be handed over once Games-time effect passes to National and Local agencies

Learning legacies need to be transferred back to benefit social impact rather than skills to OC only

Some evidence that legacy ambitions have led to investment in Scottish Disability Sport creation of regional sport coordinators

National investment for elite para-sport training facilities but, where is the infrastructure and coaching network to support that?

NEXT STEPS Lack of longitudinal work to assess any increase in participation

by, and for, those with disabilities – look for further funding Move on to Pan/Para Pan American Games in Toronto 2015 Opportunity to partner research for Gold Coast – let us know

Signage

Thank You& Questions

@gmp01Gayle.mcpherson@uws.ac.uk