Monday 24 05 2021
The impact of Covid-19 on disability sport participation will be assessed in an international study involving University of the West of Scotland academics.
Experts involved in Project Echo are also looking to hear from a wide range of people with disabilities, to hear their lived experience of how the pandemic has affected their participation in parasport or physical activity more generally.
The ground-breaking project – which will gather real-life accounts from elite athletes, along with recreational, casual and non-participants – began following the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014; assessing the long-term effects of major sporting events on community participation for the host city.
Aspects of Project Echo were placed on hold due to the pandemic: now being relaunched, it will examine, among other things, the fallout from the coronavirus.
David McGillivray, Professor in Events and Digital Cultures at UWS, said: “Even before the pandemic, we knew that the barriers to access for parasport could be, unfortunately, significant.
“Equipment can be expensive, accessible transport can be limited and facilities often do not exist which allow people to participate. The pandemic undoubtedly presents new challenges, and it’s important that these are identified.”
As part of Project Echo, an innovative online research space has been created to gather accounts from people who participate in disabled sports, and those who do not.
“Early work during the pandemic with athletes and recreational users has revealed that people with a disability have been more isolated, lonely and have participated less in physical activity due to Covid-19."Gayle McPherson, Professor in Events and Cultural Policy
Gayle McPherson, Professor in Events and Cultural Policy, added: “Early work during the pandemic with athletes and recreational users has revealed that people with a disability have been more isolated, lonely and have participated less in physical activity due to Covid-19.
“They are also at a greater risk of mental and physical illness, meaning this next phase of the research is incredibly important.”
The platform has won the backing of elite athletes, such as Lewis McConnell and Canadian Paralympian Adam Purdy.
It also has the backing of para-swimmer Erin Swann.
She said: “It is vital that more is done to improve access to parasport, and this project is an important step forward as we look to do that.
“I’m delighted to be part of this project, and look forward to connecting with and hearing from others.”
The Observatory for Sport in Scotland, the Scottish think tank on sport policy, is also backing the platform, and is working in conjunction with Project Echo, sportscotland and Scottish Disability Sport to conduct a wider programme of research. This will examine sport participation in people with a disability.
Interested individuals can join the Project Echo research forum for free, and add their voice to a range of discussion topics.
Participants are also encouraged to start their own discussions on topics relevant to their experiences, and to participate in focus groups.
To find out more about Project Echo, visit: https://theechoproject.org/