Interweaving the concepts of sport for development and adapted physical activity in a Latin American context

Sport for Development (SFD) initiatives have brought about positive societal changes; however, many scholars have recently offered more critical perspectives, emphasizing the need for a broader focus. As a multidisciplinary kinanthropological discipline with a strong special education overlay, adapted physical activities (APA) are strikingly similar to SFD in their use of a physical activity to improve the overall quality of life for individuals with special needs. This article aims to demonstrate that APA and SFD are not two separate fields but complementary approaches by examining the literature on SFD in the Latin American context and linking it terminologically to APA, particularly from the perspective of psychosocial prevention for vulnerable youth, to unify these concepts into a scholarly theme. This literature review draws on 79 peer-reviewed articles published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese over the past two decades on SFD and APA in Latin America, identified through systematic database searches and reference tracking. Using thematic analysis, overlapping goals, ethical tensions, and political dimensions of sport-based interventions were synthesized. Findings indicate that both SFD and APA prioritize promoting social inclusion, psychosocial well-being, and empowerment, particularly among marginalized groups. However, both face challenges, such as implementing universal approaches, meeting expected outcomes from sponsors, and being instrumentalized for political or diplomatic purposes. Aligning SFD and APA through shared ethical principles and emphasis on psychosocial aspects, inclusion, and community embeddedness can enhance their impact and sustainability, especially when tailored to the sociopolitical realities of Latin America.