Public Perceptions of Disability and Para Athletes Before and After the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: An Exploratory Independent-Samples Study

The Paralympic Games are frequently promoted as a catalyst for social change, yet evidence regarding their social legacy remains limited and inconclusive. This study examined differences in French public perceptions of disability before and after the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games using an independent-samples pre–post design. Two surveys were administered to French adults one month before the Games (Time 1: n = 948; Mage = 36.43 years, SD = 13.67) and approximately two months after the Games (Time 2: n = 930; Mage = 37.40 years, SD = 11.83). The questionnaire assessed general perceptions of disability, perceptions of Para athletes, perceived sporting and professional capabilities of persons with physical and vision impairments, and perceived improvements in public accessibility. Participants surveyed after the Games reported higher scores on general disability perceptions, perceptions of Para athletes, and perceptions of persons with physical disabilities. In contrast, lower scores were observed on four of five items concerning persons with vision impairments. Participants with a disability and those with a close personal connection to disability also reported more positive perceptions of public accessibility after the Games. These findings suggest that public perceptions differed before and after the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games but varied by disability type. Given the independent-samples design, they should be interpreted cautiously.