Japanese Para-Sports Association (JPSA), the body that oversees disabled sports in Japan, wants to promote the use of the term "parasports" ahead of the Paralympics in Tokyo this summer, according to sources.
The JPSA hopes that using a familiar expression that is associated with the competitive nature of sports will help it to promote the awareness and popularity of parasports and change the image of disabled sports as an activity associated with rehabilitation and welfare.
The association is planning to include the term in documents outlining its plans for the future. Parasports will also be used in printed materials issued by the body from April at the earliest.
According to a fiscal 2020 survey by the Sports Agency, 59.9% of adults played sports at least once a week, while the figure for disabled people was 24.9%, indicating there is still a lack of progress in promoting parasports.
"While the body has previously focused on providing support for people with disabilities, by using the widely known term parasports, we may be able to expect such advantages as an increase in corporate support and create a fun and uplifting image of such activities," a source said.
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