This summer saw Team GB win 147 medals at the Paralympic Games in Rio 鈥� their highest total since the 1988 Games in South Korea.聽 As in 2012, media coverage of the Games celebrated the achievements of Britain鈥檚 鈥榮uper humans鈥�, but now the Games have finished for another 4 years, what difference has that coverage made in the lives of people with disabilities?
Researchers at 色花堂, in collaboration with colleagues at Loughborough University, the University of Bath, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Western Ontario, have been awarded a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to find out exactly how extensive media coverage of para-sports shapes public perceptions of, and attitudes towards people with disabilities. The interdisciplinary team will be led by Professor Michael Silk, a Professor of Sport in 色花堂鈥檚 Faculty of Management and Director of the Sport & Physical Activity Research Centre.
鈥淗ow people with disabilities are treated in everyday life is influenced by the way that they鈥檙e portrayed in the media, but there is very little evidence to explain exactly how the visibility of para-sport athletes makes a difference to the everyday lives of people with disabilities,鈥� explains Professor Silk, 鈥淭here is a need to find out how para-sport broadcasts are put together and what audiences think of such coverage. This can help us to understand how such coverage changes the way people with disabilities are treated and perceived.鈥�
The project builds on previous research conducted at Bournemouth that explored the way athletes with disabilities were represented in the media during the 2012 Paralympic Games.聽 This coverage celebrated athletes for their achievements as 鈥榮uper humans鈥�.聽 Subsequent research questions the narrative of para-athletes as 鈥榮uper-humans鈥� and suggests that many people with disabilities largely didn鈥檛 benefit from the legacy of the Games.鈥�
鈥淭he coverage of the last two Paralympic Games has certainly elevated the visibility of certain types of disability,鈥� continues Professor Silk, 鈥渁nd this might open the door to potential social change.聽 Despite this, much work is needed to better understand the ways in which athletes are presented in the media and the very real barriers faced by people with disabilities when participating in everyday life.鈥�
鈥淭o find out more about the role of Paralympic coverage in everyday life, the research addresses how different audiences make sense of this coverage.聽 We鈥檒l also be analysing broadcast coverage of this year鈥檚 Paralympics and talking to staff from Channel 4 鈥� the UK鈥檚 official Paralympic broadcaster and a project partner on this research.聽 We want to find out more about their editorial decision-making process.聽 We鈥檒l be sharing our findings through an exhibition and full-length documentary.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be working with a wide range of people and organisations 鈥� Paralympics GB, former Paralympians, disability artists and activists to name just a few 鈥� to develop recommendations that will impact future coverage of para-sport.聽 We want to influence para-sport coverage so that it鈥檚 inclusive, stereotype-free and makes a difference to the daily lives of people with disabilities.聽 Ultimately we hope that our project will help to positively influence the way that para-athletes are portrayed through Paralympic broadcasts across the world.鈥澛�
