Legislative governance of adaptive sport and veterans’ sport in Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract The diversity of service providers in the field of adaptive sport creates a competitive environment that requires clear standards and highly qualified personnel to guarantee safe and equal access to rehabilitation programs. The purpose of the study is to summarize directions for improving the legal and organizational framework of adaptive sport to ensure the integration of persons with disabilities and war veterans. Methods applied include theoretical analysis and synthesis of legal acts, comparative legal method, documentary and content analysis, as well as a systemic approach. Results. The main legal framework is the Law of Ukraine “On Physical Culture and Sport,” which has undergone numerous amendments over three decades, gradually adapting to new socio-economic realities and international standards. The “Ukrainian Center for Physical Culture and Sport of Persons with Disabilities” plays a crucial role in implementing state policy on physical culture and sport for persons with disabilities, while also organizing health-oriented physical activities and sports, including elite-level competition and rehabilitation. National sports federations perform key functions in international representation, athlete training, development of material and technical resources, and monitoring the activities of sports institutions. Several challenges have been identified, including the insufficient number of qualified personnel, their uneven distribution across regions, and limited access to specialized coaches in small towns and rural areas. The Order of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine regarding the qualification characteristics of employees in the field of physical culture and sport, it is aimed at addressing this issue by defining the requirements for the coach-teacher, sports instructors, and the coach-physician. Conclusions. It has been underscored that there is a need to systematize and codify regulations on veterans’ sport in a unified legislative act, to reinforce the inclusive approach, to enhance mechanisms of compliance and monitoring, and to achieve stronger coordination between legislation on war veterans and corresponding frameworks for persons with disabilities. An important task is to incorporate international experience and standards, which will increase the effectiveness of legal regulation and ensure the integration of persons with disabilities and war veterans into the sporting and social life of Ukraine.