Governing Integration in Sport Systems: A Case Study of Swimming Canada

Abstract

This case follows Katie, a sport manager, as she researches Swimming Canada, an early adopter of integration (governing both able-bodied and para-swimming within one organization). The case demonstrates the organizational challenges and opportunities of integrating parasport and the able-bodied counterpart into one national sport governing body. While philosophically integration seems to be a good direction, the case of Swimming Canada demonstrates some of the key issues that need to be considered around access and inclusion, human capital resources for sport delivery, governance mechanisms, and the structure of sport that is influenced by many different social constructs. This case is particularly useful for addressing how sport policy and politics impact organizational change, inclusion, equity, and sport governance. The case is appropriate for use at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Enactments of Integrated, Disability-Inclusive Sport Policy by Sporting Organizations

“…21). The actions of Sport Canada are consistent with those of many other countries that have sought to integrate disability and Paralympic sport where possible (i.e., where an equivalent nondisabled sport governing body is available) in order to increase participation in line with social inclusion governmental agendas (Howe, 2007;Hums, Moorman, & Wolff, 2003;Kitchin, Peile, & Lowther, 2019;Misener, Bodin, & Kay, 2019;Peers et al, 2020).…”

“…Few studies have explored the enactment of integration policy as it relates to sports programming in Canada. To our knowledge, studies have examined the history of integration in swimming (Misener et al, 2019) and the implementation of integration by Athletics Canada (Howe, 2007) in high-performance programs at the national level. Recent work by Peers et al (2020) has also explored how various athletics organizations, both regional and national, communicate their integration initiatives through websites.…”