Background: Participation in sport by athletes with impairment has grown and evolved rapidly since the inception of the Paralympic Games. Athletes with visual impairment were first included in the Paralympic Games in 1976. Surveillance of illnesses and injuries forms the first important step in determination of the epidemiology and an understanding of the risk factors for both illness and injuries in these populations. Thus, surveillance can therefore assist medical teams in implementing prevention strategies. Few studies have evaluated the incidence of illness and injuries amongst athletes with impairment. For this reason, a novel web based injury and illness surveillance system (WEBIISS) was developed for use by the team physicians at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. To our knowledge, no study has specifically researched the epidemiology of illness and injuries in athletes with visual impairment during a major sport event such as the Paralympic Games. Objective: To determine the incidence associated with illness and injuries in athletes with visual impairment during the London 2012 Paralympic Games. We further aim to describe any differences between sports, age groups, gender and body systems affected in this cohort of athletes. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of a component of the large prospective cohort study on the epidemiology of injury and illness conducted over a 14-day period at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The data from 711 of the 791 athletes with visual impairment who participated in the London 2012 Paralympic Games were analyzed. The following data sources were used: Firstly, de-identified information regarding age, gender, impairment, country code and sports code of athletes obtained from the International Paralympic Committee database. Secondly, information collected from the electronic medical data capture system (EMDCS) used at all the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) medical stations; and thirdly a novel web-based injury and illness surveillance system (WEB-IISS) used by the team physicians. This is the most comprehensive reporting system used in elite athletes with impairment to date. Data were collected on a daily basis from 3 days prior to the start of the Paralympic Games (pre-competition period) until the last day of the 11-day Paralympic Games (competition period). Definitions: In order to determine the nature and extent of illnesses and injuries as well to enable uniformity in research studies evaluating the data collected during the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the following definitions were implemented: Illness was defined as 'any newly acquired illness as well as exacerbation of pre-existing illness that occurred during training or competition, and during or immediately before the London 2012 Paralympic Games'. Injury was defined as 'any newly acquired injury as well as exacerbation of pre-existing injury that occurred during training and/or competition period of the London 2012 Paralympic Games'. Incidence rate (IR) of illness or injury is the number of illnesses or injuries per 1000 athlete days. Incidence proportion (IP) of illness or injury is the proportion of athletes affected by illness or injury (n/100). Results: Incidence rate of illness (IR 11.9; 95% CI 9.0 - 15.7) was similar to incidence rate of injuries (IR 14.5; 95% CI 11.3 - 18.5) in VI athletes. The IR of illness for VI athletes (IR 11.9; 95% CI 9.0 - 15.7) compared well to that of illness for all impairment groups (IR 12.7; 95% CI 10.2 - 16.0). Furthermore, the IR of injuries for VI athletes (IR 14.5; 95% CI 11.3 -18.5) compared well to that of injuries for al impairment groups (IR 12.6; 95% CI 10.3 - 15.4). Gender and age did not affect the risk of illness or injuries in VI athletes. Furthermore, there was a higher IR of illness for swimmers with visual impairment compared to other sports, but this was not statistically significant. The IR of illness for VI athletes participating in swimming was 12.5 (95% CI 8.8 - 17.8) compared to that of VI non-swimmers, IR 11.8 (95% CI 8.9 - 15.6). Participation in athletics (track and field) was associated with a slightly higher risk for injury for athletes with VI compared to other sports, but this was not statistically significant. The IR of injury was 15.8 (95% CI 11.6 - 21.5) and the IP 22.1 (95% CI 16.3 - 30.1) for VI track and field athletes. The IR of injury was 13.0 (95% CI 9.6 - 17.4) and IP 18.1 (95% CI 13.5 - 24.3) amongst VI athletes not participating in track and field athletics. VI swimmers had a lower IR of injury (IR 4.1; 95% CI 1.8 - 9.5) than VI non-swimmers (IR 16.1; 95% CI 12.6 - 20.7) (p=0.002). There was a higher IR and IP of lower limb injuries compared to upper limb injuries in athletes with visual impairment. The IR for lower limb injuries in athletes with visual impairment was 7.7 (95% CI 5.8 - 10.3) and the IP was 10.8 (95% CI 8.1 - 14.4). The average IR of lower limb injuries for all para-athletes was 4.5 (95% CI 3.5 - 5.7). The IR for upper limb injuries in athletes with visual impairment was 3.0 (95% CI 1.9 - 4.5) and the IP was 4.1 (95% CI 2.7 - 6.3). The average IR for upper limb injuries for all para-athletes was 4.5 (95% CI 3.5 - 5.9). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that Paralympic athletes with VI had a similar incidence rate of illness and injury compared to other impairment groups; and IR of illness was similar to that of injuries. Risk of illness or injury was not affected by age group or gender, but rather sport specific differences were observed. Of particular interest was the fact that athletes with VI had a higher incidence rate of lower limb injuries than upper limb injuries.

TITLE: Achievements of our athletes at the Paralympic Games AUTHOR: Bc. Anna Brůžková DEPARTMENT: Department of Psysical Education SUPERVISOR: PhDr. PaedDr. Ladislav Kašpar, Ph.D. ABSTRACT: The thesis is focused on the achievements of our athletes at the Paralympic Games. The thesis is splited to the several section, which is devoted to problems related to basic concepts, history of sports activities of disabled people and historical view of the Paralympic Games. I also focused on the description of the individual sports that are on the summer and winter Paralympic Games. One of the important section is the classification for disability and classification for sports. In the section the achievements of our athletes we find out which games are the most successful for Czech Republic, which sport is the best for us, which disability and gender dominates gain medals and in the end, who is our most successful Paralympian. KEYWORDS: disability, Paralympic Games, history, achievements, athletes

The subject of this diploma thesis is to map the media presentation development of handicapped sportsmen in years 1992-2012. The thesis focuses on sportsmen media impression in journals Právo (also Rudé právo) and Sport (also Československý sport). The objective of this analysis is to find out, whether the impression of handicapped sportsmen corresponds with the impression of so-called normal sportsmen. The analytical part includes qualitative comparative analysis of articles about paralympic and olympic athletes at the time of Olympic and Paralympic Games. The thesis also analyse articles, that were published one week before or after the Games. The first chapter describes, how were handicapped sportsmen noted in newspaper in the past. As handicapped sportsmen are showed in media stereotypically, therefore there is a term deconstruction of representation and stereotypization as a part of theory behind this study. The framing analysis has its own chapter. The way, how texts about paralympic and olympic athletes are framed, is important for further analysis. That analysis forms six chapters. Every single chapter focuses on a single year, in which Olympic or Paralympic Games were held. Using the analysis of texts about the most successfull athletes leads to a comparison of those Games media...

Title: Paralympic classification in table tennis players with physical impairments Objectives: The aim of this work is to create systematic text by literary research follow up issue about classification in paralympic sport with focusing on table tennis players with physical impairments. Methods: In this thesis we used qualitative research methods. It is based on the analysis and synthesis of available literature resources, key organizations, and expert consultations. Results: A comprehensive text about issue of classification in the paralympic table tennis of physically disabled players was created. This work can help national table tennis classifiers of physically disabled players to classify players. In the future, research in this area needs to be carried a way that the classification is truly based on scientific evidence. Keywords: health impairment, evaluation, paralympic games, classifier, sport classes, eligibility

O presente documento apresenta sucintamente os conceitos e definições das geotecnologias, com ênfase em duas ferramentas tecnológicas de suporte a utilização desta metodologia: o geoprocessamento e o sistema de informação geográfica (SIG). A proposta metodológica da utilização da geotecnologias teve como objetivo a observação dos fenômenos dos megaeventos esportivos, que serão sediados na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, a Copa do Mundo de Futebol 2014 e os Jogos Olímpicos e Paralímpicos de 2016, bem como atender as exigências de conclusão da tese de doutorado. Para tal, foram realizados dois artigos que observaram o fenômeno megaeventos esportivos no espaço geográfico da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. O primeiro verificou as mudanças urbanas com as características socioeconômicas ocorridas nas proximidades do parque olímpico, a partir de uma visão temporal da década de 2000. O segundo artigo observou o espaço geográfico da cidade junto aos sítios olímpicos e as mudanças climáticas que vêm ocorrendo nesses locais, através da observação da evolução da temperatura de superfície com a construção de mapas termais, e de dados meteorológicos. / This paper presents the concepts and definitions of geotechnology , with emphasis on two different tools to support the use of this methodology: geoprocessing and geographic information system (GIS ) .The use of this methodological proposal, the geotechnologies, had as objective at observing the phenomena of mega sporting events that will be hosted in the city of Rio de Janeiro, World Cup Football 2014 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016, as well as meet the requirements of completion of the doctoral thesis. To this end, two articles which observed the phenomenon sports mega-events in the geographic space of the city of Rio de Janeiro were performed. The first verified the urban changes with socioeconomic characteristics, which occurred near the Olympic Park, from a temporal view of the 2000s. The second article noted the geographic area of the city surrounding to the Olympic site and the climate changes that are occurring in these locations by checking the evolution of the surface temperature with the construction of thermal maps and weather data.

O presente documento apresenta sucintamente os conceitos e definições das geotecnologias, com ênfase em duas ferramentas tecnológicas de suporte a utilização desta metodologia: o geoprocessamento e o sistema de informação geográfica (SIG). A proposta metodológica da utilização da geotecnologias teve como objetivo a observação dos fenômenos dos megaeventos esportivos, que serão sediados na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, a Copa do Mundo de Futebol 2014 e os Jogos Olímpicos e Paralímpicos de 2016, bem como atender as exigências de conclusão da tese de doutorado. Para tal, foram realizados dois artigos que observaram o fenômeno megaeventos esportivos no espaço geográfico da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. O primeiro verificou as mudanças urbanas com as características socioeconômicas ocorridas nas proximidades do parque olímpico, a partir de uma visão temporal da década de 2000. O segundo artigo observou o espaço geográfico da cidade junto aos sítios olímpicos e as mudanças climáticas que vêm ocorrendo nesses locais, através da observação da evolução da temperatura de superfície com a construção de mapas termais, e de dados meteorológicos. / This paper presents the concepts and definitions of geotechnology , with emphasis on two different tools to support the use of this methodology: geoprocessing and geographic information system (GIS ) .The use of this methodological proposal, the geotechnologies, had as objective at observing the phenomena of mega sporting events that will be hosted in the city of Rio de Janeiro, World Cup Football 2014 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016, as well as meet the requirements of completion of the doctoral thesis. To this end, two articles which observed the phenomenon sports mega-events in the geographic space of the city of Rio de Janeiro were performed. The first verified the urban changes with socioeconomic characteristics, which occurred near the Olympic Park, from a temporal view of the 2000s. The second article noted the geographic area of the city surrounding to the Olympic site and the climate changes that are occurring in these locations by checking the evolution of the surface temperature with the construction of thermal maps and weather data.

Orientador: José Irineu Gorla / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Física / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T03:47:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gatti_AndreiaMariaMicai_M.pdf: 901357 bytes, checksum: 0c37bc63cfef22403e9a5aec17c23900 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: A classificação no esporte paralímpico faz parte das regras da competição, desempenhando um papel importante para minimizar as diferenças entre os atletas de diferentes deficiências. A classificação possui duas funções importantes que são determinar a elegibilidade para competir e agrupar os atletas para a competição. O Código de Classificação e Normas Internacionais do Comitê Paralimpico Internacional (IPC) detalha políticas e procedimentos que devem ser comuns na classificação em todos os esportes. O Handebol em Cadeira de Rodas (HCR) é uma modalidade que vem sendo praticada no Brasil com padronização das regras e de caráter competitivo desde o ano de 2005. Por ser um esporte recente, e ainda não contar com um sistema de classificação funcional próprio para a modalidade, este estudo tem como objetivo propor um sistema de classificação funcional, estabelecendo os critérios e padrões a serem utilizados de acordo com o Código de Classificação e Normas Internacionais do IPC. Para tanto, este trabalho foi dividido em dois capítulos: (I) "Classificação no esporte paralimpico: Revisão de Literatura", onde uma revisão sistemática da classificação no movimento paralimpico foi elaborada, e (II) "A classificação para o Handebol em Cadeira de Rodas", capítulo onde foram abordadas todas as normas e políticas para serem adotadas para a prática do HCR como: história da classificação do HCR; princípios, propósitos e componentes; classe esportiva; status de classe esportiva; elegibilidade para competir; critérios de elegibilidade mínima; pontuação dentro de quadra; avaliação física; avaliação de movimentos funcionais; observação em quadra; componentes da avaliação do atleta; provas de função muscular; valores dos testes manuais e pontuação dos membros superiores, membros inferiores e tronco; características das classes esportivas; procedimentos da classificação; protestos; recursos; elegibilidade para ser um classificador e certificação do classificador. Desta forma,o presente estudo estabelece as diretrizes que irão nortear o procedimento da classificação funcional no HCR. / Abstract: Classification in Paralympic sports is a part of competition regulation, playing an important role in minimizing the differences among athletes different disabilities. Classification has two important roles that are, to determine the eligibility to compete and to group athletes for competition. The Classification Code and International Standards of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) details policies and procedures that should be common to all sports. Since 2005, wheelchair handball (WH) has been playing in Brazil, following standardized regulation, mainly aiming competitive events, As WH is a relatively recent sport and still has not its own classification system, this research aims to propose a functional classification system, setting out the criteria and standards to be used in accordance with the Classification Code and International Standards. This study was divided into two chapters: (I) "Classification in Paralympic Sports: a Literature Review" which is a systematic review of classification on Paralympic Sports, and; (II) "Classification for wheelchair handball", a chapter where the regulaments and policies to be adopted for the practice of WH were discussed and subdivided into these different topics: history of the WH classification; principles, purposes and components; class sport; sport class status; competitive eligibility; minimum score for eligibility criteria within court; physical evaluation; assessment of functional movements; court observation; athletes assessment; manual muscle testing ; scoring manual testing (upper limb, lower limb and trunk); characteristics of sports classes; classification procedures, protests, appeals, eligibility to become a classifier and classifier certification. Therefore, the current study tries to establish a guideline that might help the procedures for the WH functional classification system. / Mestrado / Atividade Fisica Adaptada / Mestra em Educação Física

This thesis explores representations of Paralympians within media and advertising. Scholarly research on disability is extremely limited, with current research focusing on print media, and few studies going as far as to perform a discourse analysis. Media representations play a prevalent role in constructing “disability” and have the power to define what it means to be a disabled person. Using a poststructural theoretical framework, I undertake a critical discourse analysis of television advertisements produced by Nike and Visa to uncover what narratives regarding disability are circulating with regularity. I find these advertisements featuring Paralympians serve to reproduce the myth of the “supercrip”, failing to acknowledge the complexity of individual experiences of those living with disabilities. Further, the simultaneous celebration and marginalization of Paralympians, a key dialectic found within these advertisements is indicative of a larger polemics circulating with regularity regarding people with disabilities within our increasingly neoliberal society. / v, 117 leaves ; 29 cm

This thesis presents a sociological critique of the concept of legacy as it surrounded the London 2012 Paralympic Games. A sociological approach was adopted to challenge much of the spontaneous sociology that surrounds the ascendancy of legacy within the Olympic and Paralympic space. Legacy, disability and the Paralympic Games are the predominant structures of the research problem. The literature review attempts to present a sociology of the sociological approaches in these fields. Underpinning the research design is Bourdieu et al. s (1991) epistemological hierarchy which consists of and proceeds from the break , the construction of a conceptual framework to the empirical design. This hierarchy contributed to the repositioning of legacy from the pursuit of cause and effect, or rather away from the pursuit of legitimacy and illegitimacy, of London 2012 to a study of the proposed and imposed causes and effects, legitimations and illegitimations of it. Aligned to this repositioning is the primary collection of data through interviews with five different institutional fields: government, media, corporate sponsors, disability sport and disability institutions. The research findings present a positional analysis of the inter- and intra-relations of these respective fields. In the discussion key symbolic struggles and issues are presented for each field with particular attention given to the development of the positive leaning and legitimising best ever Paralympic narrative and to the commercial and political legitimacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. It is concluded that legacy is ultimately a symbolic struggle of different visions of respective agents and institutions that are unable to achieve these absolute visions or ends.

This thesis contends that the image of fire is a multivalent and theologically valuable image for application in British Christian communities. My research offers an original contribution by contextualising the image of fire for Christian practice in Britain, and combining critical observation of several contemporary fire rites with theological analysis. In addition, I conduct original case studies of three Scottish fire rituals: the Stonehaven Fireball Ceremony, the Beltane Fire Festival, and Up-Helly-Aa in Lerwick, Shetland. The potential contribution of fire imagery to Christian practice has been overlooked by modern theological scholarship, social anthropologists, and Christian practitioners. Since the multivalence of the image has not been fully recognised, fire imagery has often been reduced to a binary of ‘positive' and ‘negative' associations. Through my study of non-faith fire rituals and existing Christian fire practices, I explore the interplay between multivalence, multiplicity, and liminality in fire imagery. I demonstrate that deeper theological engagement with the image of fire can enhance participation, transformation, and reflection in transitional ritual experience. I argue that engaging with the multivalence of the image of fire could allow faith communities to move beyond dominant interpretive frameworks and apply the image within their own specific context. First, I orientate the discussion by examining the multivalence of biblical fire imagery and establishing the character of fire within the British social imagination. Second, I use critical observation of community fire practices in non-faith contexts to build a new contextual framework for the analysis of fire imagery. Finally, I apply my findings to a contextual analysis of existing Christian fire practices in Britain. Throughout, I argue that sensory and imaginative interaction with the image of fire provides a way to communicate and interact with theological ideas; experience personal and communal change; and mediate experience of the sacred.