The Role of Sport in the Process of Constructing Disabled People’s Lifeworld (Volgograd Region Eхample)

Abstract

This article is devoted to the study of the lifeworld of people with disabilities in the Volgograd region. Discussing their daily practices, the authors have come to the conclusion that there are some limitations that do not contribute to the full-fledged life of disabled people in economic, social, and psychological terms. Focusing on stereotypes about atypical people, the state, social institutions, and individuals often structure social reality without including people with disabilities. The use of phenomenology makes it possible to identify how people with disabilities perceive their 'flawed status.' The lifeworld of disabled people is negatively affected by limited social contacts. In turn, this impedes the formation of a sensory experience, which is necessary for a mature and well-developed life. Theoretical analysis and the results of an interview show that sport is an important part of the lifeworld where people with disabilities can gradually reconstruct their activities, and then create a full-fledged social reality. Sport allows people with disabilities to improve their physical condition, start to believe in themselves, and begin to apply themselves in other areas of everyday life. The results of the study allowed us to identify the reasons why people with disabilities choose sports. Informants with acquired disabilities are trying to reconstruct their lifeworld from 'before.' Disabled children create their own perspective world that shifts the focus of human attention to training and competitions. In conclusion, we discuss the potential of sports for people with disabilities. The lack of a developed system of rehabilitation centers, specialized sports bases, specialists in the region, and the lack of a variety of types of physical activity reduce the potential of sports as a means of creating a new vibrant lifeworld for active disabled people.