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The Palgrave Handbook of Paralympic Studies

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Critically engages with contemporary issues that have shaped the Paralympic Movement and the Paralympic Games
  • Developed as a companion volume to the Palgrave Handbook of Olympic Studies (2012)
  • Explores the issue of the Cyborg Athlete and its antagonisms with Paralympic values through media coverage of the inaugral 2016 Cybathlon event

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Table of contents (30 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiv
  2. Introduction

    • Ian Brittain, Aaron Beacom
    Pages 1-11
  3. Paralympic Sport: Political and Strategic Perspectives

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 247-247
    2. Comparative Sport Policy Analysis and Paralympic Sport

      • Mathew Dowling, David Legg, Phil Brown
      Pages 249-272
    3. The Paralympic Movement and the International Development Agenda

      • Amy Farkas Karageorgos, Colin Higgs
      Pages 273-294
    4. The Rise of China as a Paralympic Superpower

      • Ailin Mao, Shuhan Sun
      Pages 295-320

About this book

This handbook provides a critical assessment of contemporary issues that define the contours of the Paralympic Movement generally and the Paralympic Games more specifically. It addresses conceptualisations of disability sport, explores the structure of the Paralympic Movement and considers key political strategic and governance issues which have shaped its development. 

The Palgrave Handbook of Paralympic Studies is written by a range of international authors, a number of whom are senior strategists as well as academics, and explores legacy themes through case studies of recent Paralympic games. Written in the wake of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, it provides an assessment of contemporary challenges faced by the International Paralympic Committee and other key stakeholders in the Paralympic Movement.

Its critical assessment of approaches to branding, classification, social inclusion and technological advances makes this handbook a valuable resource for undergraduate study across a range of sport and disability related programmes, as well as a point of reference for researchers and policy makers.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Centre for Business in Society, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom

    Ian Brittain

  • University of St Mark and St John, Plymouth, United Kingdom

    Aaron Beacom

About the editors

Ian Brittain is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Business in Society at Coventry University, UK. His research focuses upon sociological, historical and sports management aspects of Paralympic and disability sport. He is also the Heritage Advisor to the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation and has attended the last five summer Paralympic Games.

Aaron Beacom is a Reader in Sport and International Relations at the University of St Mark & St John, UK. His research concerns sport and alternative physical cultures in public policy. His recent publications include the book International Diplomacy and the Olympic Movement (Palgrave 2012). He leads the Sport and Disability degree pathway and sits on the regional Inclusive Sport steering group. 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Palgrave Handbook of Paralympic Studies

  • Editors: Ian Brittain, Aaron Beacom

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-47901-3

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan London

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-47900-6Published: 20 March 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-47901-3Published: 15 February 2018

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIV, 687

  • Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations, 12 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Sociology of Sport and Leisure, Disability Studies

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 229.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access