The PARAdig project description
During the last ten years, much valuable work has been done under the umbrella of the Eurasmus+ Programm and the European Commission to promote dual career (DC) for young talented and elite athletes. The concept of DC reflects the challenge to combine the duality of developing one’s sport skills and potential with continuous education and/or work. The rounds and pressures of competitions, overseas tournaments and regular training can be overwhelming, leading athletes themselves, their closest social circle and sport organizations to sometimes neglect their education and other skillsets and qualifications. The strenuous efforts of the EC have done much to rebalance this tendency, by putting more emphasis on the prospects of the athletes when they retire from sport.
While all EC documents and implemented projects note that inclusion of athletes with disabilities is expected within the context of policy that promotes access to sport for all at all levels, there are still various kinds of barriers in achieving this aim. Notably, the socio-economic burdens put on the families of athletes with disabilities. The obvious showcase for those who have broken through such barriers is the Paralympic Movement.
For years, it has been a challenge for athletes in EU Member States to combine their sporting commitments with the need to receive an adequate education with a view to a smooth transition after the end of their sporting careers and their subsequent employment. With the growing focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport (originally inspired by the Paralympic Games) and improvements in the accessibility and design of sports facilities, an increasing number of people with disabilities are playing sports and becoming professional athletes. These athletes face the same problem with the schedule of their sport commitments, but have several additional obstacles to deal with in both the training process and in the process of preparation for employment.
While all EC documents and implemented projects note that inclusion of athletes with disabilities is expected within the context of policy that promotes access to sport for all at all levels, there are still various kinds of barriers in achieving this aim. Notably, the socio-economic burdens put on the families of athletes with disabilities. The obvious showcase for those who have broken through such barriers is the Paralympic Movement.
For years, it has been a challenge for athletes in EU Member States to combine their sporting commitments with the need to receive an adequate education with a view to a smooth transition after the end of their sporting careers and their subsequent employment. With the growing focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport (originally inspired by the Paralympic Games) and improvements in the accessibility and design of sports facilities, an increasing number of people with disabilities are playing sports and becoming professional athletes. These athletes face the same problem with the schedule of their sport commitments, but have several additional obstacles to deal with in both the training process and in the process of preparation for employment.
