Disabled sports in Australia

Disability sport in Australia encompasses individuals with different disabilities, of all ages, participating in sport in Australia and encompasses individuals of all skill levels from recreational to professional. The apex of disability sport in Australia is the Paralympics. Australia's participation at the Paralympics began with the inaugural summer and winter Paralympic games in 1960 and 1976 respectively. Australia hosted the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney.

The most popular disability sports in Australia include swimming, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball.[1] Federal government involvement in disability sport has focused on ‘mainstreaming’ disability sport, which has the objective of seeing disability sport together with sport generally, rather than a distinct area.[2] Sport Australia’s inclusive sport framework that focuses on fostering a positive sporting environment for everyone, regardless of age, ability, cultural background, physical or intellectual disabilities.[3] Australian participation in disability sports is lower than in able bodied sports.[4] According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, approximately 59% of individuals with a reported disability between 5 and 14 years old participated in physical activity, compared to 20% of 15-64 year olds and 12% of individuals aged older than 65.[5]