Perceptions of paralympic sports in Ecuador

Abstract

Disabled athletes perform an arduous task in order to develop the different contents of their preparation. In turn, they are helped by a guide who complements their preparation in perfecting it, in order to participate in future competitions where they must demonstrate their sports development. The Ecuadorian Government, through the Sports Secretariat, has given considerable support to the development and promotion of physical activity, sports and recreation; for the benefit of groups of people with disabilities. However, when comparing its reality with international benchmarks, certain questions arise to take into account to optimize the management process. The present investigation sought to determine the main needs of Ecuadorian athletes with disabilities, according to the perception of the functioning of the Paralympic sports spaces presented by those involved. The study is qualitative with a phenomenological approach. An interview was conducted with 100 people, including relatives of Paralympic athletes and experts on the subject. As a result, it is concluded that: there are architectural accessibility needs in high performance centers; and increased economic, organizational, and political support for Ecuadorian adaptive sports. It is essential to work on policies and guidelines that allow safeguarding the development process of physical activity and sport. However, on the other hand, there are currently equitable and specialized federations according to the different disabilities. Although it is necessary to generalize the resources in terms of sports insolation, with the architectural needs and relevant technology.