Celebrating difference

The #WeThe15 campaign aims to use sport to help break down barriers and end discrimination against the 15% of the world’s population that experiences disability. But some researchers argue that the campaign overlooks the exclusionary nature of certain events, such as the Paralympic Games (in which only certain bodies with disabilities are eligible to compete)….

Coach mentorship

Mentorship can enhance coach recruitment, retention and promotion across sport by advancing coach skill, comfort and confidence. In 2020, the Black Female Coaches Mentorship Program (BFCMP) started as a way to address the mentorship gap for Black women coaches in Canada. New research with the BFCMP explored the experiences of Black women coaches, and points…

Invictus Games impact

The Invictus Games is an international adaptive sport competition for service members and Veterans with physical and mental illnesses and injuries. Uniquely, it integrates family programming and support into program delivery. In the SIRC blog, Invictus Games researchers share tips that sport programmers can use to support military families, from recognizing and appreciating family to…

Changing the rules

A high incidence of injury rates observed during Para alpine events at the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games led to a close collaboration between sport technical officials, host officials and the IPC Medical Committee. That collaboration led to rule changes, such as racing earlier in the day when snow conditions were better, which greatly reduced…

Special Olympics and community inclusion

People with intellectual disabilities often feel excluded from their communities. Sport participation is one way to promote social inclusion. A transnational study suggests that Special Olympics athletes who feel more included in sport are also more likely to feel included within their local communities.

Girls’ return to play

The unique barriers that girls experience to accessing sport and physical activity have been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Girls report that social connection is a top benefit of sport. Creating an environment that sets clear expectations for interactions between participants and fosters a sense of belonging can help organizations retain and engage girls in…

What makes a playground inclusive?

Play is a right of all children, but not all children have the same opportunities to experience play. An inclusive playground means having wide entry spaces free of obstacles, ramp access, shaded space, trained staff, and different types of sensory, solitary, and creative play components. A new Inclusive Playgrounds resource presents evidence-informed recommendations designed to…

How you communicate affects if you’re viewed as inclusive

To mark World Inclusion Day (October 10, 2022), SIRC wanted to focus on information about inclusive communications in sport. This blog post emphasizes why sport administrators, sport organizations and coaches should improve how inclusive they are, specifically in all the ways they communicate. It also highlights ways to check communications to make everyone in their…

Intersectional data collection for equity in sport

Relying on top line averages and rankings can perpetuate inequality in sport. But examining data through the lens of demographic factors can help organizations to take meaningful action toward equity in sport. MLSE LaunchPad’s 4 pillars of Transparency, Trust, Trying (it out) and Talking (it out) can help sport organizations improve their measurement and evaluation…

Supporting the moms in your life

Family, friends, and teammates all play an important role in encouraging moms’ physical activity and sport participation. There are many ways to support moms to help them stay active. These include helping with childcare and household work, providing moms with emotional support, and most importantly, cheering them on every step of the way!