ABSTRACT
This research was carried out to assess the determinants of participation in sports by the physically challenged persons in Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of this study, one major hypothesis was formulated out of which seven sub-hypotheses were drawn and were tested. The Ex-post facto research design was used for the study. A self developed and validated instrument (questionnaire) on the determinants of participation in sports by the physically challenged persons in Nigeria was standardized and used for this study. The questionnaire was administered to four hundred and eight (408) respondents, using the purposive sampling technique in selecting the special schools under study. These Special Schools were purposively used because they have all the categories of physically Challenged students, the proportionate sampling which was used in selecting the number of respondents while the simple random sampling for physically challenged students, sports coordinators and coaches. Three hundred and ninety three (393) completed and returned questionnaire were statistically analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (mean and standard deviations). Chi-square was used to test the various hypotheses postulated. An alpha level of 0.05 was used to either retain or reject the hypotheses drawn and tested for the study. The findings from the study shows significant determinant for the physically challenged person participation in sports in Special Schools in Nigeria while the findings from the study showed that Sports programme is a significant determinant for physically challenged participation in sports in Special Schools in Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended that government should set up a committee to monitor the allocation and utilization of these funds for the physically challenged x participation in sports in Special Schools in Nigeria. Adequate information planned and implemented sports programmes should be enhanced through the guidance of qualified specially trained personnel.