Activation of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and Possible Changes in Social Awareness

Abstract

    The purpose of this study was to grasp the actual conditions of disability athletes in all the competitions to be carried out at the 2020 TOKYO Paralympics, and, based on this, to study the activation of disability sports looking towards 2020 and the possibility of social awareness changes regarding the Paralympics.
    We interviewed 29 athletes to understand their actual conditions. We also held a workshop to study the activation of disability sports, looking towards 2020, and the possibility of social awareness changes regarding the Paralympics. Seven people involved in disability sports participated in the workshop.
    The findings of this study are summarized as follows: from the interviews, we revealed problems in activities of disability athletes in each area: living and training environment, coaching, support system of the Association or Federation, dissemination of information and awareness, and funds and sponsors. From the workshop, we clarified the direction of activation according to the following four themes: cognition and dissemination, player excavation, career development of disability athletes, legacy from the 2020 TOKYO Paralympics based on the perspective of disability sports activation, and we suggested the ideas that may encourage social awareness changes for the society and for the players.