participation
Creating inclusive opportunities by removing barriers and expanding grassroots access to Para sport.
At the IPC, we believe that every person with a disability deserves the chance to experience the life-changing power of sport and physical activity, whether they dream of becoming a Paralympian or simply want to lead a more active and healthy life. Under the Participation pillar, the IPC is committed to expanding grassroots access to Para sports by establishing more entry points, building structured and sustainable opportunities for ongoing participation, and tackling systemic, environmental and societal barriers that limit engagement in Para sport.
Initiatives
PARA SPORT FESTIVALS
To create more opportunities for participation in Para sports, the IPC will support National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) who have trained Para Sport Development Leaders to deliver Para Sport Festivals — community-based events designed to raise awareness, spark interest, and provide hands-on experiences in Para sport.
These festivals will be open to individuals with and without disabilities, promoting inclusion while serving as platforms to recruit and train local volunteers to support both the events and ongoing community sports programmes. By fostering these collaborations, the IPC seeks to empower persons with disabilities to become more physically active and expand access to sport participation.
Moreover, Para Sport Festivals will serve as a catalyst for building local partnerships. They offer valuable opportunities for municipalities, schools, universities, disability organisations, private companies, and other stakeholders to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the long-term development of sustainable Para sport structures in their communities.
Para Sport in Communities
Regular access to Para sport training is vital to identify, nurture, and sustain the development of emerging Para athletes. To support this need, the IPC provides grants to NPCs in Africa, Americas, Asia, and Oceania to support community-based Para sport training programmes.
This intervention not only promotes active lifestyles among persons with disabilities but also plays a key role in discovering and retaining athletic talent, strengthening grassroots Para sport development and enabling consistent, inclusive training opportunities.
I’mPOSSIBLE
Despite the proven benefits of physical education at school — such as improved physical health, enhanced social development, and increased teamwork — children with disabilities face systemic challenges that limit their participation and enjoyment. Teachers are not adequately trained to support and promote the needs of children with disabilities, and, as a result, children are excluded from physical activity by both peers and teachers.
I’mPOSSIBLE is the IPC’s global education toolkit that provides teaching resources, lesson plans, worksheets and inspirational videos to teachers and learners. Targeting 6-18 year-olds, I’mPOSSIBLE aims to provide learners with a greater knowledge and understanding of inclusion, Paralympic sports, the Paralympic Movement, and its transformational impact on society. The programme also provides teachers with hands-on recommendation on how to make physical education inclusive.
I’mPOSSIBLE is available for use by National Paralympic Committees and Paralympic Games Organising Committees, and is currently being implemented in more than 40 countries around the world in several languages.
PARA SPORT EQUIPMENT
Many National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) face significant challenges in accessing the basic equipment needed to support Para sport. To address this barrier, the IPC through Sport for Mobility is making EUR 4.7 million worth of grant funding available to NPCs in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania to improve access to essential Para sport equipment.
Many Para sports require specialised equipment tailored both to the demands of the sport and the individual needs of athletes with impairments. With limited manufacturers and suppliers in the market, the cost of such equipment is often prohibitively high. The IPC offers these grants to members with the goal of increasing participation in Para sport.
MOBILITY GRANTS
To help address the lack of accessible sporting facilities for persons with disabilities, the IPC as part of Sport for Mobility will make nearly EUR 4 million available in Mobility Grants to support its member organisations in creating inclusive environments so that Para sport can thrive.
These grants will provide essential funding for upgrading training centres, sports venues, or other infrastructure to improve access for athletes with disabilities. This includes implementing small-scale accessibility improvements, including the installation or renovation of ramps, accessible doors, and inclusive bathroom facilities.
Through these targeted investments, the IPC aims to remove physical barriers, expand access to Para sport, and ultimately increase participation among people with disabilities at all levels of sport.
