The influence of large-scale sports competitions on the development of adaptive sports in the Russian Federation

Aim. This study attempts to evaluate the effect of the 2014 Paralympic Games and the 2018 World Cup on the development of adaptive sports in the Russian Federation, as well as to assess changes in the attitude of the Russian society towards people with disabilities. Materials and methods. The analysis of official statistics on the dynamics of the number of persons with disabilities who regularly practiced sports in Russia from 2009 to 2018 was performed. 166 Moscow athletes (108 males and 58 females ages 12-67, including 77 persons with disabilities) took part in the survey to assess the subjective perception of the changes that occurred in the lives of people with disabilities 5 years after the Sochi Paralympics. Results. The results of our survey indicate that most of athletes felt an influx of new people into professional sports after the 2014 Olympic and Paralympics Games. Athletes with disabilities are more likely to note that after the 2014 Paralympics, there are fewer barriers in their lives, and Russian society’s attitude towards athletes with disabilities has changed for the better. Conclusion. It can be stated that large-scale sports competitions in the Russian Federation have contributed to the development of Russian adaptive sports and resulted in serious changes in social perception of people with disabilities.