Unpacking the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: A Comparative Analysis of Media Representations in Slovenia and Croatia

Abstract

In recent decades, the Paralympics have evolved into one of the largest and popular elite-level multisport global competitions. However, research has consistently highlighted issues with both – the quantity and quality of its media coverage. While the representation of the Paralympics in the media has been increasingly studied, there has been no study examining the relationship between the Paralympics and the media in Slovenia and Croatia. This study addresses this gap and examines the representation of the Paris 2024 Paralympics in the media in this region. It applies a mixed-methods approach and focuses on the volume of coverage, agenda diversity and the quality of reporting. The study uses a broader definition of sports media, and includes content from the respective Paralympic Committees, exploring a variety of traditional and digital media outlets. The findings show that coverage was limited, with notable differences between public and commercial legacy media. It also lacked agenda diversity, featuring a strong nationalistic focus that contributed to a relatively balanced gender representation. Furthermore, while disability narratives were minimized in competition coverage and athletes were portrayed as inspirational in other related content, the media largely failed to meaningfully address the broader social context of parasport and the inequalities faced by athletes and people with disabilities.