Functions of Turkish National Paralympic Committe and its approach to disabled sports

The development of disabled sports in Turkey has gained momentum with the establishment of the Turkish National Paralympic Committe (TMPK), our name in the international arena has begun to take place more and more each passing day. The purpose of this research is to examine Turkish National Paralympic Committe's responsibilities, structure, tasks and functions. It is also to determine the committe's approach to disabled sports through its relations with Turkish Sports Federation for Disabled. In the research, qualitative research methods such as document analysis and interview method were used. Semi-structured interview method was preferred as interview type. Interview data of this study consists of managers of TMPK and federations for disabled sports selected through purposeful sampling. Research focuses on approach to disabled sports, and thus it is a case study. Face to face interviews were performed with 11 managers, coaches and members of the International Paralympic Committee active in various levels in Turkish National Paralympic Committee and sports federations for disabled as stakeolder of the committee. The data obtained from the interviewers were interpreted by using descriptive and systematic analysis method and content analysis method, and coded by 3 people. Themes were created by bringing similar codes together. Research addresses contribution of TMPK to disabled sports and also Sports Federations for Disabled, disabled sports, disabled athletes and General Directorate of Sports. Relative legislations and structure, quotes and functional obstacle were detected as external reasons for not attending the paralympic branches. Participants stated their negative opinions about federations for disabled, budget, groundwork, athlete training and development of sports culture. As a result of the research, despite the difficulties Turkish National Paralympics Committee experiences in its functions, it was determined that Turkish National Paralympics Committee has significant contributions to disabled sports, disabled atheletes and sports federations for disabled in Turkey. It is concluded that the executive function belongs to sports federations for disabled and there are some problems in relations among the mentioned bodies. Key words: Turkish National Paralympic Committee, disabled sports, disabled athletes, disabled sport federations.