Sport plays an important role within Australian society. Many Australians are involved in sport and recreation and enjoy the associated benefits of enjoyment, social interaction, health and fitness, personal achievement, national pride and community involvement. Numerous sporting programs have been established for people with disabilities, and there are many opportunities for people with disabilities to get involved in sporting competitions and events on a state, national and international level.

Sport Australians love their sport whether they are playing the game or supporting their favourite team. Sport plays a very important role in how Australia defines itself as a country, and how Australians articulate their sense of belonging to their nation. [Goggin, G. and Newell, C. 2005 p74] However, throughout much of the twentieth century people with a disability were discriminated against and excluded from participating in sport. We learn in school that sport is important for social recognition and success, but that it is not for those who are sickly, too fat, the bookish, frail – or disabled. Ibid. p75 Sport first became important for people with a disability during World War II when it was used as rehabilitation on veterans and civilians with spinal injuries. Since then more people with a disability have become involved in sport in Australia. The introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act in 1992 meant it was unlawful to exclude a person on the grounds of a disability from a sporting activity. As a consequence people with a disability have been taken seriously in sport.

Disability Discrimination Act Under Section 28 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) it is unlawful to exclude a person or their associates, on the grounds of a disability from a sporting activity. This includes those involved in a coaching or administrative capacity. The DDA does not apply if:

• The person is not reasonably capable of performing the actions reasonably required in relation to the sporting activity; or
• people who participate in the sporting activity are selected by a method which is reasonable on the basis of relevant skills and abilities; or
• a sporting activity is conducted only for persons who have a particular disability and the person does not have that disability

Deaf Sports Australia People with a hearing disability have taken part in sport for over a century. It began with a friendly cricket match between South Australia and Victoria in 1895. This lead to Interstate Deaf sporting carnivals every two or three years in different Australian capital cities. In 1954, the Australian Deaf Sports Federation (ADSF) was formed to coordinate interstate sporting competitions. After a ten year break the Australian Deaf Sports Carnival resumed in Sydney in 1964/65. The Carnival was the forerunner of the Australian Deaf Games now held every 3 or 4 years. In 1955 the ADSF affiliated with an International organisation of sports for the deaf Comité International Sports des Sourds. CISS is responsible for all International competitions, including the Deaflympic Games (previously known as World Games for the Deaf). The ADSF became Deaf Sports Australia (DSA) in 1999.

Stoke Mandeville Games During the mid 1940’s sport was introduced as part of the treatment for war veterans and civilians with spinal injuries. In 1944 Dr. Ludwig Guttmann opened, at the request of the British Government, a spinal injuries centre at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The doctors quickly recognised the physical and psychological benefits from sport so they introduced the patients to polo, basketball, badminton, archery and table tennis. In 1948, the hospital held the first Stoke Mandeville Games that included sporting competitions for patients from other rehabilitation centres around Britain. It was the first competition organised for wheelchair athletes.

Paralympic Games In 1952, Dutch ex-service men attended the Stoke Mandeville Games and established the International Stoke Mandeville Games Committee (ISMGF). In 1960 an Olympic style event for athletes with a disability was held in Rome. The games were conducted parallel to the Olympic Games and became the Paralympic Games. The Rome Games were organised for people with a physical disability, and in particular, those with a spinal cord injury. About 400 athletes, from 23 countries including Australia competed.

Over the years the range of paralympic sports has expanded:

• 1976 Toronto - events for blind or partially sighted athletes and amputee athletes
• 1980 Arnhem - athletes with Cerebral Palsy participated in the Games
• 1996 Atlanta - events for athletes with intellectual disabilities were included for the first time.

The International Paralympic Committee was founded in 1989. Its mandate was to organise, supervise and coordinate the Paralympic games and promote sport for athletes with disabilities.

In 1990 the Australian Paralympic Federation was established. In 2000 Australia hosted the Paralympic Games in Sydney. The events covered six categories of disability:

1. spinal cord injury
2. amputee
3. cerebral palsy
4. les autres (a range of locomotor disorders)
5. vision impaired
6. intellectual disability

The Sydney 2000 Paralympics was host to 3843 athletes from 125 countries.

Special Olympics Unlike the Paralympics, the Special Olympics are not designed for elite athletes with disabilities. The Special Olympics are a year round training program and competition for people with an intellectual disability. The program offers a variety of sporting activities and provides the opportunity for everyone irrespective of their level of ability, to take part.

The Special Olympics began in 1968 when Eunice Kennedy-Shriver, sister of former US President John F Kennedy organised the first International Special Olympics Games in Chicago. Since 1968 the organisation has grown and today more than 1.4 million athletes are taking part in over 150 countries.

Australia first became involved in the Special Olympics in 1976 and now the program runs in all the States and the ACT. About 2000 athletes participate in 39 regions throughout Australia. Once every 4 years National and International Games are held.

SA sporting organisations There are a number of sporting organisations in South Australia that enable people with disabilities to participate in sport, recreation and community activities.

BlindSports SA The Association of SA Blind Sporting Clubs is the representative body of blind and vision impaired sports people. It actively encourages blind and vision impaired people to participate in competitive and recreational sports of all kinds.

Blind Sporting Council The Blind Sporting Council was established in 1996 and provides funding, assistance and support to people who are blind and vision impaired to enable them to participate in sport, recreation and community activities.

Deaf Sports Australia Deaf Sports Australia (DSA) is the peak body for deaf sport in Australia. There are 12 National Deaf Sporting Organisations and 5 States affiliated with DSA.

South Australian Deaf Recreation Association is affiliated with DSA and provides access to local, national and international sport for athletes with hearing impairments.

Riding for the Disabled Association Provides recreational and therapeutic horse riding sessions for people aged 5-75 years.

Sailability SA Integrates people with a disability into the sport and recreation of sailing.

SASRAPID The South Australian Sport and Recreation Association for People with Integration Difficulties Incorporated (SASRAPID) was established in 1982 and is an organisation that assists people with integration difficulties to become involved in sport, recreation and leisure activities.

Special Olympics SA Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for all Australians with an intellectual disability. It provides the opportunity to develop physical fitness, participate in the sharing of skill and friendship with their families, other Special Olympians and the wider community.

Wheelchair Sports SA Wheelchair Sport was originally introduced into South Australia in the early 60’s as part of the total rehabilitation program for individuals with a spinal injury. Since its introduction, there has been a rapid growth and development of wheelchair sport. This has lead to the formation and incorporation of the Wheelchair Sports Association of South Australia in 1982. It is now known as Wheelchair Sports SA. Wheelchair Sports SA is responsible for the management of sport and recreation for people with a physical disability including paraplegia, quadriplegia, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries and other physical disabilities in South Australia and is recognised by the State Government and the Office for Recreation, Sports & Racing as the governing body. Its aim is to ensure that people with a physical disability are provided with the maximum opportunity to participate in sport and recreation.

References

Australian Paralympic Committee. 2007. [Online, accessed 10th June 2007]. URL: http://www.paralympic.org.au/apc_sub.asp?id=103>

Deaf Sports Australia. 2004-2005. [Online, accessed 10th June 2007]. URL: http://www.deafsports.org.au/aboutus/history.php Goggin, G. and Newell, C. 2005.

Disability in Australia: Exposing a social apartheid. Sydney: UNSW Press Special Olympics. 2007. [Online, accessed 9th June 2007]. URL: http://www.specialolympics.com.au/index.php?submenu=Home_Menu&src=gendocs&link=History&category=Main

Sport SA. 2007. [Online, accessed 2nd June 2007]. URL: http://www.sportsa.org.au/main/home

Wheelchair Sports SA. 2007. [Online, accessed 11th June 2007]. URL: http://www.wheelchairsports-sa.org.au