IPC President Urges for Enhanced Accessibility to Propel Para-sport Growth
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Synopsis
IPC President Andrew Parsons emphasized the need for global investment in accessible infrastructure to foster Para-sport growth at the Global Disability Summit. He highlighted the potential of Para-sport to enhance inclusion for the 1.3 billion individuals with disabilities and pledged IPC support across 150 nations by 2029.
Key Takeaways
- Global investment in accessible infrastructure is essential for Para-sport development.
- The IPC aims to support Para-sport initiatives in 150 countries by 2029.
- Para-sport can drive societal change and enhance inclusion.
- Recent Paralympic Games have spurred significant infrastructure improvements.
- Investment in disability inclusion should extend beyond the Paralympics.
Berlin, April 2 (NationPress) The President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons, has urged global governments and authorities to invest significantly in accessible infrastructure to promote the worldwide advancement of Para-sports. During his address at the Global Disability Summit on Wednesday, Parsons underscored the transformative power of Para-sport as a catalyst for greater inclusion for the 1.3 billion individuals living with disabilities worldwide.
The IPC President also pledged that the IPC would extend Para-sport development support to 150 countries by 2029, creating enhanced opportunities for individuals with disabilities to engage in sports and physical activities.
Andrew Parsons stated: “At the IPC, we dream of a future in which every individual with a disability can participate in Para-sport in any manner they desire, whether for leisure or competition. To realize this vision, we require accessible infrastructure and equipment that facilitates participation in sports.”
“Access to Para-sport promotes broader inclusion across all areas. Sports help diminish the stigma and discrimination associated with disabilities. It empowers individuals, shifts societal attitudes, enhances mobility, and fosters inclusive communities, improved employment, health results, and stronger economies.”
“In my perspective, in addition to government legislation and policies, access to and participation in sports for individuals with disabilities can spark substantial societal transformation. Para-sport can serve as a launching point for significant change and a more inclusive world for all, but this cannot occur without accessible infrastructure,” he added.
During his speech, Parsons referred to the Paralympic Games as “the world’s most transformational sports event,” emphasizing how the event triggers significant infrastructure enhancements that benefit society as a whole.
“Since Barcelona 1992, every iteration of the Paralympic Games has spurred transformational change,” he remarked. “Hosting an event of this scale compels governments, city leaders, and local authorities to focus more on the rights of individuals with disabilities, initiating monumental infrastructure projects.”
“In 2013, when Tokyo was granted the Paralympic Games, approximately 70% of the city's Metro stations were accessible. By the time of the 2021 Opening Ceremony, this figure had risen to nearly 100%.”
“Last summer, Paris hosted the most remarkable and impactful Paralympic Games ever. The national government invested over EUR 1.5 billion specifically in disability inclusion projects across France. The Mayor of Paris described hosting the Games as igniting an Accessibility Revolution in both the city and the nation.”
“In anticipation of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, millions of Euros are being allocated to enhance the accessibility of transport infrastructure in host cities and regions, including the 2,000-year-old Arena di Verona, which will host our Opening Ceremony,” he added.
While Parsons expressed pride in the influence the Paralympic Games have on host cities and nations, he emphasized that investment in accessible infrastructure should not be limited to hosting the world’s third-largest sports event.
“We firmly believe that Para-sport is a vehicle for a more inclusive world, and infrastructure enhancements—integrating accessible and inclusive design into every initiative from the outset—should not be solely a byproduct of hosting the Paralympic Games,” clarified the IPC President.
First launched in 2018, the Global Disability Summit serves as a unique global platform aimed at improving the lives of individuals with disabilities, particularly in the Global South. It was established to gather global, regional, and national stakeholders united by a shared vision for disability-inclusive development and humanitarian efforts.
The International Disability Alliance, the Government of Germany, and the Government of Jordan are hosting the third edition of the Global Disability Summit, taking place in Berlin from April 2-3, 2025.
