ABSTRACT
A brief history of parasport events is given with analysis of the way disability has been historically conceptualized in the context of sporting events. As sport for athletes with physical disabilities began in segregated rehabilitation hospital settings, rehabilitation has been given greater importance in the realm of disability studies; recreation was seen in connection to rehabilitation as a method to increase physical function, improve morale and enable re-integration of persons with disabilities into society. This chapter reviews the historical and contemporary status of each integrated and non-integrated events for athletes with disabilities. Critical focus on the social change agenda and the debates surrounding this are included introducing the debates surrounding integration, inclusion and identity politics. This discourse comes together to explain the significance of the two sporting events central to this investigation: the 2014 Commonwealth Games of Glasgow, Scotland, and the 2015 Parapan American games of Toronto, Canada.
