Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport

PARNELL, RICHARD

doi:10.23889/SUThesis.69353

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Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport / RICHARD PARNELL

Swansea University Author: RICHARD PARNELL

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DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.69353

Abstract

Fairness is one of the most important ethical issues in sporting competition and is a particular problem in Paralympic sport due to differences in the nature and severity of athletes’ impairments. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) attempts to promote fairness in the structure of competiti...

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Published:	Swansea University, Wales, UK 2025
Institution:	Swansea University
Degree level:	Doctoral
Degree name:	Ph.D
Supervisor:	McNamee, M. J.
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69353

first_indexed	2025-04-24T14:27:33Z
last_indexed	2025-04-25T05:21:00Z
id	cronfa69353
recordtype	RisThesis
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spelling	2025-04-24T15:33:52.0485501 v2 69353 2025-04-24 Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport 1f55cb322b5ab75b7612c552756127c2 RICHARD PARNELL RICHARD PARNELL true false 2025-04-24 Fairness is one of the most important ethical issues in sporting competition and is a particular problem in Paralympic sport due to differences in the nature and severity of athletes’ impairments. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) attempts to promote fairness in the structure of competition by grouping athletes into different classes. There are, however, many aspects of that classification system that are unfair. This thesis aims to develop an alternative ethical framework for Paralympic classification based on the principle of fair equality of opportunity. I argue that the purpose of, and rationale for Paralympic classification is not, as the IPC states, to minimise the impact of impairment on athletic performance, but rather to provide all athletes with a fair and equal opportunity to perform in meaningful competition. Loland has established the most developed ethical model for assessing fairness in sport. I propose a three-stage framework for Paralympic classification that develops Loland’s model and incorporates but distinguishes the separate equal opportunity theories of Jacobs and Roemer. I call this the Fair Equality of Opportunity 2 (‘FEO2’) model. I argue that natural differences of Paralympic athletes that cannot be controlled but have a significant effect on athletic performance should be recognised by grouping athletes into relevant classes (“Background Fairness”, “BF”). I argue that the distribution of advantage in each class should reflect differences in athletic performance based on natural intrinsic talents (i.e.relevant skills and abilities) rather than extrinsic factors such as technology (“Procedural Fairness”, “PF”). Finally, I argue that unequal treatment in the distribution of advantage between Paralympic athletes should reflect differences in performance (“Outcomes Fairness”,“OF”). I conclude that the FEO2 model is preferable to the present IPC classification system because it embeds the principle of fair equality of opportunity before, during, and after, sporting competition. E-Thesis Swansea University, Wales, UK Fairness, Fair Equality of Opportunity, Paralympic Classification, Paralympic Sport, Loland, Jacobs, Roemer 2 1 2025 2025-01-02 10.23889/SUThesis.69353 A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University McNamee, M. J. Doctoral Ph.D 2025-04-24T15:33:52.0485501 2025-04-24T15:22:15.6862701 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences RICHARD PARNELL 1 69353__34106__db4ba330c42548cf9cdf401943027727.pdf 2024_Parnell_R.final.69353.pdf 2025-04-24T15:26:42.7336703 Output 1212737 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The Author, Richard John Parnell, 2024 true eng
title	Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport
spellingShingle	Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport RICHARD PARNELL
title_short	Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport
title_full	Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport
title_fullStr	Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport
title_full_unstemmed	Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport
title_sort	Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport
author_id_str_mv	1f55cb322b5ab75b7612c552756127c2
author_id_fullname_str_mv	1f55cb322b5ab75b7612c552756127c2_***_RICHARD PARNELL
author	RICHARD PARNELL
author2	RICHARD PARNELL
format	E-Thesis
publishDate	2025
institution	Swansea University
doi_str_mv	10.23889/SUThesis.69353
college_str	Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id	facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title	Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id	facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title	Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str	School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
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description	Fairness is one of the most important ethical issues in sporting competition and is a particular problem in Paralympic sport due to differences in the nature and severity of athletes’ impairments. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) attempts to promote fairness in the structure of competition by grouping athletes into different classes. There are, however, many aspects of that classification system that are unfair. This thesis aims to develop an alternative ethical framework for Paralympic classification based on the principle of fair equality of opportunity. I argue that the purpose of, and rationale for Paralympic classification is not, as the IPC states, to minimise the impact of impairment on athletic performance, but rather to provide all athletes with a fair and equal opportunity to perform in meaningful competition. Loland has established the most developed ethical model for assessing fairness in sport. I propose a three-stage framework for Paralympic classification that develops Loland’s model and incorporates but distinguishes the separate equal opportunity theories of Jacobs and Roemer. I call this the Fair Equality of Opportunity 2 (‘FEO2’) model. I argue that natural differences of Paralympic athletes that cannot be controlled but have a significant effect on athletic performance should be recognised by grouping athletes into relevant classes (“Background Fairness”, “BF”). I argue that the distribution of advantage in each class should reflect differences in athletic performance based on natural intrinsic talents (i.e.relevant skills and abilities) rather than extrinsic factors such as technology (“Procedural Fairness”, “PF”). Finally, I argue that unequal treatment in the distribution of advantage between Paralympic athletes should reflect differences in performance (“Outcomes Fairness”,“OF”). I conclude that the FEO2 model is preferable to the present IPC classification system because it embeds the principle of fair equality of opportunity before, during, and after, sporting competition.
published_date	2025-01-02T06:49:41Z
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Fair Equality of Opportunity: An Ethical Framework for Classification in Paralympic Sport / RICHARD PARNELL

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