Every year, Tallwood proudly presents the Little Feet Meet, a joyful event that unites preschool and elementary schools for a day of collaboration and fun! Students, whether they have intellectual disabilities or not, come together to have fun doing activities that build friendships and promote understanding. Tallwood students eagerly volunteer their time during school to make sure preschoolers and elementary school students have the best time.
The Little Feet Meet is currently exclusive to Virginia, thanks to Special Olympics Virginia. So, how do students with and without disabilities connect in different states and countries? And how is this important issue getting attention all over the world?
Well, the answer is the Paralympics. Showcasing the extraordinary achievements of para-athletes and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, the Paralympics is known as the world’s number one sporting event driving social inclusion. Media coverage spotlights the incredible athletes and their stories, playing an important role in shaping society’s view of disability and sports. It gives us a deeper understanding and promotes a more inclusive vision that emphasizes both the victories and struggles of athletes with disabilities.
Media coverage plays a key role in shaping perceptions of elite athletes with disabilities in sports. However, media coverage of the Paralympics often relies on stereotypes about disability. This affects how athletes see themselves and how people view disability. Most people in the U.S. still don’t know much about the Paralympics compared to the Olympics, mainly because there is not enough funding, not enough media coverage, and many misunderstandings about what the Games are all about.
The Paralympic Games have sometimes been viewed as less important than the Olympics. Yet, they’ve created their own space by challenging old-school ideas about disability and highlighting the importance of inclusion in different countries. The 2016 Games saw an increase in televised coverage and attendance figures that were second only to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Social media campaigns pumped up the excitement around the athletes’ achievements by sharing their personal stories and journeys, helping boost interest and viewership.
Para-sport coverage faces a lot of the same problems as regular sports coverage, which leads to discrimination and less attention to women and minority athletes. When these sports aren’t covered well, it can reinforce stereotypes and make it tougher for people to relate to athletes with disabilities. The media plays a huge role in raising awareness and shaping our views of these athletes and the sports they compete in.
Sadly, media coverage of the Paralympics has often been put down or misrepresentative by framing Paralympians as “superhuman” and highlighting their disabilities rather than their athletic strengths. Because the media doesn’t focus much on it, industry folks think that people just aren’t that into watching the Paralympics. It’s one of the reasons why there’s not much coverage.
There’s less coverage of Paralympic events and limited display for athletes. Events are not aired during prime-time and most are only available online or on streaming platforms. While Peacock streamed all 22 Paralympic sports and 549 medal events, and NBC dedicated prime-time programming to the Paralympic opening ceremonies, these are compared as insufficient to Olympic coverage.
Many media personnel covering the Paralympic Games often don’t have experience with disability or knowledge of disability sports. Journalists often show the Paralympics as not as big of a deal as to traditional sports.
While media coverage of top para-athletes helps raise awareness, Paralympians often don’t get as much attention or celebration as Olympic athletes. Campaigns like “Meet the Superhumans” show their incredible abilities, but the focus on elite athleticism and advanced prosthetics can sometimes make everyday people with disabilities feel left out or discouraged.
Without media coverage, para-athletes can feel isolated during competitions. The lack of broadcasting lowers their morale and negatively affects their performance. It also makes it harder for them to earn sponsorships, which are crucial for funding training and events. This creates a tough cycle in which less media attention leads to less public support and interest.
On the flip side, broadcasting the Games can really motivate athletes and give them an extra boost. When Paralympians get media attention through coverage, their achievements are celebrated, helping create a more inclusive world where everyone can see themselves as champions. Many athletes connect their personal stories, disabilities, sports, and gender to how they’re portrayed in the media, making their experiences even more meaningful.
The “overcoming disabilities” is being ditched to promote these para-athletes as world-class elite sportspeople. The Paris 2024 Organizing Committee has made inclusivity a top priority, aiming to change perceptions. Before the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, nearly $1 million was spent to improve accessibility at many of the city’s major tourist attractions. Several nonprofits also stepped in by launching social media campaigns to raise awareness about the Paralympics and highlight the importance of sports for athletes with disabilities. These efforts are changing how disability is viewed, empowering people to embrace their abilities and inspiring millions about what athletes with disabilities can achieve. Ultimately, media coverage can highlight the Paralympics and the vast potential of all individuals and challenge perceptions of ability.
