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.
