RELAÇÃO ENTRE O DESENVOLVIMENTO ECONÔMICO, POPULAÇÃO E QUANTIDADE DE MEDALHAS DOS PRINCIPAIS PAÍSES POR CONTINENTE AO LONGO DAS PARALÍMPIADAS

Since their inception, the Paralympic Games have reflected global disparities in economic and social terms, while also promoting inclusion and highlighting the athletic performance of athletes with disabilities. This study investigates how Gross Domestic Product (GDP), population size, and the number of sports disciplines impact the number of medals won, based on historical data from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and economic information from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Descriptive analysis was used to understand the distribution of the data, considering means, standard deviations, minimum and maximum values. Pearson correlations indicate a significant association between GDP and the number of medals in North America and Oceania, while the number of sports disciplines is related to medals in Europe and South America. Multiple linear regression demonstrates that GDP (β = 0.92) and the number of disciplines (β = 0.67) are significant predictors of medals, explaining 79% of the variability. The results show that, although GDP and the number of disciplines are determining factors, sports policies and sports culture play crucial roles. In Europe, performance is not strongly associated with GDP, while in Oceania and North America, the strong correlation between GDP and medals reinforces the importance of robust economies. In the Caribbean, economic size is not a determining factor for Paralympic development, justified by other variables. That said, the research suggests that Paralympic success is influenced by a combination of economic factors, inclusive public policies, and sporting traditions. Received: 2025/01/21 Reformulated: 2025/02/02 Accepted: 2025/05/02