How the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics continue to promote change in Japan and beyond

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games continue to demonstrate that Change Starts With Sport, nearly five years after the world’s largest sporting event for athletes with disabilities took place in the Japanese capital.

Two initiatives – the Game Changer project and the Sport For Tomorrow programme – show that the impact of the Tokyo 2020 Games not only continues today but has grown over the years. 

The Game Changer project was originally launched by the Netherlands Olympic Committee * Netherlands Sport Federation (NOC*NSF) to promote inclusive sport through Para sport, and was further developed in cooperation with the Japan Sport Council (JSC) in 2017.

Inclusive society through Para sport

In November 2025, representatives from Japan and the Netherlands gathered to review the progress achieved through the Game Changer initiative. The session was held during the Deaflympics in Tokyo.

Officials from both countries focused on addressing key questions, including how community awareness has increased and how sport systems have improved since Tokyo 2020. 

“In the Netherlands, children who use wheelchairs can join regular athletics clubs on a weekly basis,” said Rita van Driel, former IPC Governing Board Member, who was part of a group of representatives from Dutch sporting bodies.

“Through the Game Changer project around the Tokyo 2020 Games, integrated track sessions were held six times a year, creating spaces within the local community where participation was normalised rather than segregated.”

As van Driel emphasised, Para sport serves as a powerful tool for fostering inclusion, while continued support is essential to create environments that enable more people with disabilities to take up sport. 

The belief is what is at the core of Japan’s Sport For Tomorrow initiative, which recognises sport as a means to achieve broader social goals. The Paralympics have long shown that sport can help shift people’s perceptions and strengthen inclusion across different communities. 

Japan’s commitment through Sport For Tomorrow

Launched ahead of Tokyo 2020, Sport For Tomorrow represents Japan’s long-term commitment to advancing the values of sport globally, based on the idea that sport can address social challenges and contribute to sustainable development.

The initiative engaged millions of people across more than 200 countries and regions through exchanges, training programmes, and events in the lead-up to the Games, which were held in the summer of 2021. 

Sport For Tomorrow did not conclude after the Games. Instead, it continues to serve as a bridge connecting cities, organisations and communities. By sustaining partnerships and providing platforms for knowledge exchange, the programme ensures that dialogue and cooperation continue – proving that the Paralympic legacy extends beyond the Games themselves. 

Game Changer across Paralympic host cities

First introduced after the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the Game Changer programme has been implemented in successive host countries to strengthen inclusive sport participation at the community level.

In Japan, Dutch experts and Paralympians partnered with municipal leaders, schools and local clubs to exchange expertise on inclusive sport systems. Workshops and events brought together diverse groups to discuss how to expand access and promote inclusion within mainstream sport structures.

An external review later highlighted increased participation opportunities and improved community integration for people with impairments in Tokyo. The findings demonstrated how international exchange can lead to local impact.

The project continued during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, adapting to meet local needs. In Paris’s 19th arrondissement, where women’s participation in sport has historically been comparatively low, Game Changer supported cycling lessons and the development of community sport hubs.

More than 100 women learned to ride bicycles, and many more girls became regularly engaged in sporting activities. The initiative helped strengthen confidence, independence and community connection.

From Rio to Tokyo to Paris, Game Changer has shown that Paralympic legacy is transferable. It grows through partnership and adapts to the needs of each host city.

Looking ahead to a bright future

The Sport For Tomorrow initiative now includes participation from municipalities and organisations involved in winter sports. Sustained partnerships, strong community engagement, and the sharing of knowledge remain key elements of a legacy that extends beyond any single host city.

From Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026, the story of Paralympic legacy is one of continuity and connection. The positive impact of the Paralympic Games does not end with the Closing Ceremony, it takes root through partnership and grows through shared commitment.