This study aims to identify the factors explaining the low participation of women with disabilities in sports, particularly in competitive events in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa.
The research is based on observations from international sporting competitions involving persons with disabilities. In most sports delegations participating in various African competitions, women remain significantly underrepresented compared to men. This situation affects the majority of Sub-Saharan African countries and appears to be particularly pronounced in Senegal.
A qualitative research approach was adopted to gather stakeholders’ perspectives on this phenomenon. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Participants included key members of the Senegalese Para-Sport Federation, namely the President, the Secretary General, the National Technical Director, a national coach, three female international athletes, and three male athletes.
The findings reveal several factors contributing to the low participation rate of women in sports competitions. These include inactive or underperforming regional leagues, the underutilization of specialized centers, a shortage of specialized equipment and qualified technical personnel, and the combined burden of physical disability and gender-related barriers. These factors collectively limit access to sports participation and competitive opportunities for women with disabilities.
Several solutions may be considered to improve the situation. The most important is the expansion of grassroots sports participation through the activation of all regional leagues. In addition, increasing the number of national competitions, organizing events for younger age categories, and strengthening the training of technical staff in para-sports could contribute significantly to enhancing female participation and promoting inclusion in competitive sports.