21st EASS Conference, Sport and the world in crisis: challenges and solutions, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education

Event organizer: EASS (European Association for Sociology of Sport)

Speakers: Prof. Paolo Diana, Dr. Valentina D’Auria (University of Salerno)

Paper: How to narrate the Paralympics? The perspective of Italian media professionals

Abstract: Recent years have seen an increase in the media attention and popularity of the Paralympic Games within our society (Brittain & Beacom, 2016), leading to their emergence as a global sporting event. This phenomenon has conveyed a significant message: para-athletes are first and foremost athletes, competing in elite competitions capable of engaging a broad audience. Nevertheless, the media discourse surrounding Paralympic athletes has been characterised by the presence of stereotypes, frequently associated with portrayals that accentuate disability as a form of superpower (Silva & Howe, 2012) or that employ language that can be reductive or paradoxical (Purdue & Howe, 2012).

This study explores the perspectives of 15 Italian media professionals (including journalists, photographers, technical commentators and cameramen) who worked on the coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games for major national newspapers. The study employs qualitative interviews to achieve the following objectives: to analyse current practices of representation, to understand how the media can help shape the social perception of disability in the public, and to identify the best narrative practices to adopt. The results of this research offer a critical analysis of the role of the media in Paralympic storytelling, highlighting both the progress made towards a more inclusive narrative and the challenges still open to ensure a more responsible and inclusive representation.

Keywords: qualitative interview, media representation, paralympic games