BOCCIA AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION: EVIDENCE OF ITS IMPACT ON THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN COLOMBIA AND THE WORLD (2020-2025).
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56219/lneaimaginaria.v25i1.5833Keywords:
Boccia, Paralympic sport, social inclusion, disability, cultural transformation.Abstract
This argumentative essay examines the consolidation and acceleration of Boccia as a catalyst for social inclusion during the period from 2020 to 2025, a period marked by its institutional maturation post-pandemic. Through analysis of recent empirical evidence, it demonstrates that Boccia transcends its sporting dimension through interconnected mechanisms including multidimensional therapeutic benefits, democratizing technological innovations such as extended reality, and robust institutional frameworks exemplified in the Colombian context. The synthesis of multiple studies establishes significant improvements in motor function of 28-31%, anxiety and depression reduction with large effect sizes, along with measurable community transformations. Colombia emerges as a paradigmatic case with significant budget increases during 2020-2025 and representation in international sport governance since 2024. Critical analysis reveals that, despite persistent challenges in financial sustainability and territorial equity, Boccia constitutes a successful model of how adapted sport can catalyze profound cultural changes, challenge limiting perceptions about disability, and promote more inclusive societies.
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