Cross-Comparative Sport Policy Analysis and Paralympic Sport

This chapter introduces the reader to discussions surrounding comparative sport policy literature and begins to reflect upon how comparative sport policy research might be informed by, and applied to, the Paralympic sporting context. In doing so, the chapter identifies a number of challenges in applying what have historically been able-bodied centric comparative models to examine the Paralympic sporting domain. The chapter argues that the adoption of comparative sport policy approaches have the potential to further develop our understanding of Paralympic sport; however, any attempts to do so should only be done cautiously and through acknowledging the philosophical and methodological complexities and challenges of comparative analysis as well as the importance of identifying and taking into consideration issues that are unique to the Paralympic context.