INCLUSION IN THE SPORTS WORLD: AN ANALYSIS OF THE INVISIBILITY OF THE PARALYMPICS IN DIGITAL MEDIA

Abstract

Inclusion in the world of sports plays a fundamental role in transforming society, especially regarding its presence in sectors such as media, education, and culture. The visibility of Paralympic athletes and sporting events aimed at people with disabilities contributes to the promotion of greater equality and respect for diversity, but these individuals are not often seen participating in significant events. Furthermore, they are athletes who strive immensely to become great competitors and win, overcoming daily challenges, stabilizing physical and mental efforts, and working hard to achieve global success. Furthermore, to become an athlete with a disability (PWD), many obstacles are faced, from training conditions to gaining recognition, and in most cases, they lack sponsorship. Encouraging people with disabilities to participate in sports fosters job creation, not only in sports but also in areas such as healthcare and marketing, among others, promoting economic growth and social inclusion. The objective of this research is to highlight the importance of Paralympic athletes’ visibility in digital media, highlighting their impact on daily life and the construction of a more inclusive society. This is exploratory, basic research with a qualitative approach, based on the work of authors such as Lorena Kikuti (2024), Isabella Veloso (2022), Fernanda Zalcman (2020), and Letícia Rodrigues (2024), among others. It is observed that Paralympic sports, although growing, still face barriers, including media-related ones, limiting their full inclusion and recognition. Thus, greater recognition is needed for these individuals. The abstract is a mandatory element, consisting of a sequence of objective sentences summarizing the topic in question, the objective of the study, the methodology, and the final considerations.