Issue 7 | July 2011 - Get Ireland Active

APA Research“A Qualitative Analysis of the 2008Summer Paralympic Games representedin one Broadsheet NationalNewspaper in the Republic of Ireland”A research study was conducted byAisling Drea, a postgraduate studentin University College Dublin who dissertation on Irish newspapercoverage of the 2008 ParalmypicGames. Aisling is currently the Sports Inclusion Disability outline of the study.Research studies which investigate media coverage of the an Irish context. The aim of this research was to examinehow the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games were representedby the Irish Times newspaper. A retrospective study wasemployed involving a qualitative in-depth textual analysisof newspaper items on a thematic basis.the research showed a focus on ‘hard news’ but which illus- tion.This is in contrast to Olympics sports coverage whichA strong supremacy of the medical model was evident incoverage through the use of medical descriptions and ‘sportas rehab’ where sport was seen as a mechanism to overcomingor decreasing disability. The ‘Super Crip’ stereotypewas most evident in coverage where extraordinary perfor- The peak in newspaper coverage was matched by a concentrationof medal wins by Irish athletes but was also based on‘not disabled enough’ to compete in the Paralympics. This is throughout coverage but lacked any explanation deprivingthe reader of gaining any appreciation or holistic under-Athletes with disabilities were often compared to athleteswithout disabilities in coverage. There was continuouscomparison made between the Olympics and Paralympicswith an interchangeable use of the word Paralympic withOlympic. This may have aimed to reinforce the equality-Corporate ignorance about disability sport in the media canonly be reduced if people with disabilities are included inand schools of journalism and mass communication shouldintegrate coverage of people with disabilities in the curric- courses designed and presented by people with a disability.There is an urgent need for more disability equality trainingand their organisations for all media employees. A consultativebody should be established to which newspaper adver-For further information on this research contact:Aisling Drea at adrea@corksports.ie leenLynch T.D. Minister of State for Disability, Equalityand Mental Health, on Saturday June 11th at 1.30pm inCope Foundation Sports Complex, Montenotte. Lord MayorMichael O’Connell and his wife the Lady Mayoress CatherineO’Connell both attended the launch.The fantastic crowd was compiled of the club’s members,athletes, family, friends and staunch supporters of the club.Also in attendance was medal-winning Irish ParalympicAthlete, Orla Barry.Some of the other esteemed guests included: Brenda Green,Hon. Secretary of Paralympics Ireland, with her husbandLeo Green. The IWA were well represented by EileenO’Mahony, Fiona McSweeney and Paul Ryan. MichaelCrowley and Aisling Drea from Cork Sports Partnershipwere in attendance. Tim and Mary Nation were present forthe Irish Scouts. Brian Toomey of Irish Wheelchair Karateand Jim Condon from Fermoy Karate Club attended. Both ofwhom are regular guest instructors at Saturday Club sessions.Jean Daly, formerly of IWA Cork, was unable to attend dueto prior commitments. Jean was heavily involved in foundingthe club. She was represented by her mother Jennifer Dalyand her brother. Rebel Wheelers was founded in 2008 toprovide sports inclusion for those aged between 5 -18 witha physical disability. The club started with 5 youngstersattending on a weekly basis; this has expanded to 25 currentmembers.Contact Jean O’Sullivan 086 3176229| 22