Thesis (MScMedSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medical Science. (rehabilitation) at the University of Stellenbosch / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: For physically disabled learners to achieve successful participation in sport requires the synergistic interaction of many diverse factors. The Limpopo province of South Africa produces fewer physically disabled athletes at the junior, senior and elite levels than any other province in South Africa. This study identifies and examines the key aspects that affected the development of physically disabled athletes in the Limpopo province in 2006/2007. Factors that both facilitate or inhibit the development of physically disabled athletes in the province are identified and discussed. This highlights aspects that need to be addressed in seeking to bridge the gap between current deficiencies and an optimised future for participants in disabled sport in Limpopo province. The study is descriptive, using a case-study design as part of a situational analysis. Physically disabled athletes from one school were selected using a convenience sample and key informants were selected through purposive sampling. Questionnaires were completed by ten physically disabled athletes as well as by staff involved in their athletic development. Interviews were also conducted among key informants from the sport and education sectors. The questionnaires were analysed quantitatively and the interviews underwent qualitative content analysis. The findings indicated that there are seven critical areas/key factors influencing the development of physically disabled athletes in Limpopo province. These are: 1. Support systems; 2. Sports participation; 3. Attitudinal facilitators and barriers; 4. Environmental accessibility; 5. Resources; 6. Education and training; 7. Politics. The above elements impacting on the development of physically disabled athletes in Limpopo province are compared with the five key areas of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Development Model. It was found that numerous challenges exist in Limpopo, namely: a lack of sufficient humanresource capacity, funding, sponsorships and the necessary financial resources for adequate infrastructure sustainability and support services. Therefore, in order for physically disabled athletes in Limpopo province to be successfully developed within the framework of the IPC Development Model, the challenges and key factors/critical areas identified by this study need to be addressed. The following recommendations were made following the outcomes of the study: 1. Establish a discussion forum for all stakeholders; 2. Take steps to elevate the status of sport for physically disabled athletes in Limpopo province; 3. Improve the co-operation between sports federations, government departments and disabled people’s organisations Limpopo province; 4. Educate stakeholders; 5. Improve coaching expertise and knowledge; 6. Have specialist rehabilitation expertise in the LSEN schools; 7. Monitor and evaluate sports programmes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die deelname van fisiek-gestremde leerders aan sport het verskeie aspekte wat wedersyds verband hou. Die interaksie van hierdie aspekte is noodsaaklik om ‘n suksesvolle uitkoms te verseker. Hierdie tesis identifiseer en ondersoek die sleutelaspekte wat ‘n impak het op die ontwikkeling van fisiek-gestremde atlete in die Limpopo provinsie van Suid-Afrika in 2006/2007. Dit is bekend dat hierdie provinsie heelwat minder fisiek-gestremde atlete op junior, senior en elite vlak lewer as enige ander provinsie in die land Faktore wat hierdie studiegroep se ontwikkeling bevorder, sowel as die faktore wat dit benadeel,, word in hierdie tesis geïdentifiseer en bespreek. Dié bespreking is van nut vir die identifisering van huidige probleemareas, wat spesifieke aandag sal verg om die vooruitsigte vir gestremde atlete in die provinsie te verbeter. Die tesis is beskrywend van aard en maak gebruik van ’n gevallestudieformaat en omstandigheidsontleding. ’n Gerieflikheidsteekproef van fisiek-gestremde atlete is by een skool gekies terwyl ’n versameling van sleutel inligtingsbronne doelgerig geïdentifiseer is. Vraelyste is deur tien fisiek-gestremde atlete, sowel as personeellede betrokke by hulle atletiese ontwikkeling, voltooi. Onderhoude is ook gevoer met sleutelinformante in die Sporten Onderwyssektore. Die vraelyste is kwantitatief ontleed met die hulp van Professor Nel van die Departement Statistiek aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch, terwyl transkripsies van die onderhoude kwalitatief geëvalueer is. Die bevindinge het daarop gedui dat daar sewe sleutelfaktore is wat die ontwikkeling van fisiek-gestremde atlete in hierdie provinsie beïnvloed: 1. Ondersteuningstelsels; 2. Sport deelname; 3. Omgewingstoeganglikheid; 4. Onderwys en opleiding; 5. Gesindhede en struikelblokke; 6. Bronne; en 7. Politiek. Die invloed wat hierdie aspekte op die ontwikkeling van fisiek-gestremde atlete in Limpopo provinsie uitoefen, word met die vyf sleutelgebiede van die Internasionale Paralimpiese komitee se Ontwikkelingsmodel vergelyk. Dit is bevind dat talle uitdagings Limpopo provinsie in die gesig staar, naamlik, ’n gebrek aan menslike hulpbronne, ’n tekort aan befondsing en borgskappe asook ontoereikende finansiële voorsiening om behoorlike infrastruktuur te verskaf. Dus, om fisiek-gestremde atlete in Limpopo provinsie die geleentheid te bied om binne die voorgeskrewe raamwerk van die Internasionale Paralimpiese Ontwikkelingsmodel te vorder, moet aandag geskenk word aan die sleutelfaktore en tekortkominge wat hierdie studie identifiseer. Die volgende aanbevelings word gemaak : 1. Vestig ‘n gespreksforum vir alle belanghebbendes; 2. Neem die nodige stappe vir die opheffing van die status van sport vir fisiek-gestremde atlete in die Limpopo provinsie; 3. Verbeter die samewerking tussen Sportfederasies, Staatsdepartemente en Organisasies vir Gestremde Persone in die Limpopo provinsie; 4. Lei alle belanghebbendes op; 5. Verbeter afrigtingskundigheid; 6. Sorg vir spesialis rehabilitasiekundigheid by die LSEN-skole; en 7. Moniteer en evalueer sportprogram.