An International Comparative Study on Sport Development System in Communities for the Disabled Between Germany and Japan

Aims:

This study is to explore the community sports development systems for the disabled after the World War 2, between Germany and Japan.

Backgrounds:

Recently, in Japan, community sports system is reconstructed, referring to community sports system in Germany. In this study, the sport promotion for the disabled is focused in order to explore how the community supports the disabled to increase in sport participation rates of the disabled. To understand each characteristics of two countries, this study attempts to identify similarities and differences between Germany and Japan.

Methodology:

To achieve the aim of this study, this study employs meta-analysis, and semi-structure interview methods.

Results and Discussion:

In Germany, Medical insurance system was applied for rehabilitation sports as a part of the social security system. The insurance system is promoted mainly by Deutscher Behinderten-Sportverband e.V, which is the Germany Disability Sport Organisation, was established based on Deutscher Versehrtensportvervand e.V. Before the World War 2, in Germany voluntary sector systems and spirit of mutual add had been existed. Germany has attempted to develop sport for the disabled mainly in the community although the philosophy of the community sports for the disabled has been based on the promotion of social participation. On the other hand, taking the opportunity of the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games, disability sport has been developed under the government administration. The sport development for the disabled has been developed as a rehabilitation tool, in particular under the philosophy of vocational rehabilitation. From these point, the difference of the political system and the position of sport in the society, had a major impact on the establishment of community sports promotion system after the post-war era in the two countries.