Table 3_Paralympic sport in Central Asia: a scoping review with descriptive analysis of participation, achievement, and medal efficiency (1996–2024).docx

This review focuses on elite, Games-level participation and achievement. We conducted a scoping review reported in line with the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, alongside an analysis of International Paralympic Committee (IPC) archival data for five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan) across Summer (1996–2024) and Winter (1994–2026) Games, framed through the SPLISS model and the constraint-led approach.

The scoping review maps international knowledge; the IPC analysis documents regional outcomes, offering complementary evidence. The review identified three domains: income-, gender-, and technology-linked participation gaps (D1); discipline-specific age profiles ranging from a median of 25 years in Para Swimming to 38 years in Para Equestrian (D2); and ten national policy factors linked to Paralympic success (D3). IPC data showed Central Asian participation rising from 15 athletes in 1996 to 113 in 2024, led by Uzbekistan (n = 64, Paris 2024) and Kazakhstan (n = 44), concentrated in Para Athletics, Para Judo, and Para Powerlifting, plus a full Kazakhstani sitting volleyball squad and Para Swimming.