Comment on recent approaches to adapted sports in Japan

The Tokyo Paralympic Games in 1964 had triggered off the development of sports for the physically disabled in Japan. The author proposed that sports for the physically disabled should have four-layered structure. The 1st stratum is rehabilitative sports (remedial gymnastics) in which effective therapeutic and adapted recreational services is provide in any of the treatment centers or community settings under medical administration. The 2nd stratum contains various recreational sports which may enhance the residual functional capacity of the participants as well as provide social, avocational, and emotional enrichment. To challenge and to compete in sports for disabled athletes makes the 3rd stratum. The 4th stratum is sports for mental training. As the greatest event to realize the 1st and 2nd strata, national athletic meet for the disabled has been held since 1965. "Japan Paralympic" which begun in 1991 is the 3rd stratum sports and is for athletes making effort to succeed at Paralympics. For an instance, in the process of subjective approaches to expand opportunities for participating in sports, to concern themselves with improving the public image of their behavior and to realize the normalization in sports, two local associations were founded, ie, Miyagi Prefectural Sports Association for the Handicapped (1988), and Sendai City Sports Association for the Handicapped (1992). The author introduced a wide variety of their challenging activities, and commented as to the impetus. The author administered a questionnaire to 29 junior and senior college students regarding their opinions of "adapted" sport and related reports by news media. The term "adapted" refers to adjustment or modification of an activity to allow an individual with limitations due to illness or disability to participate in the activity (Shivers, 1985). Of all, 21% felt it as the problem of psychological barrier, 36% was at the mercy of the wind of mass media. Only 10% responded with active and assertive attitude. Even NHK decided against producing documentary of the Atlanta Paralympic Games (1996) by reasons of low concern for Paralympics among Japanese and telecasting fee. In conclusion, the significance of the social meaning of actions should be highly regarded in the adapted physical activity, and normalization in sports should be promoted especially in the 2nd stratum.

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