The Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Union (EU) have jointly launched a new project titled “Sport For All: Promoting Inclusion and Combating Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities.” The initiative focuses on breaking barriers, reducing discrimination, and ensuring equal access to sports for persons with disabilities.
The launch event brought together representatives from 41 EPAS member states and 30 sports organisations, highlighting the shared commitment to recognising “ability over disability.”
Leaders Call for a More Inclusive Sporting World
The event opened with remarks from:
- Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe
- Normunds Popēns, Deputy Director-General, DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission
- Alexandre Husting, Chair, EPAS Governing Board
- Charlotte Girard-Fabre, Chair, EPAS Consultative Committee
In his address, Gianluca Esposito stressed the importance of inclusive sports environments, saying:
“Inclusion through sport is about recognising ability over disability. It is about creating a world where everyone can play, compete, and belong.”
About the Sport For All Project
Running from March 2025 to August 2026, the Sport For All project aims to:
- Address discrimination and exclusion faced by people with physical, sensory, intellectual, and psychosocial disabilities
- Remove barriers caused by social and systemic obstacles
- Combat online discrimination, including hate speech and cyberbullying
- Empower sports organisations from grassroots to elite level
- Promote international best practices in inclusive sport
These efforts reflect a growing call to create equal opportunities in sports participation across Europe.
Athletes Share Experiences and Call for Change
High-level Paralympic athletes Zakia Khudadadi, Arnaud Assoumani, Gizem Girişmen, and Yaroslav Denysenko shared personal stories and insights at the event.
Zakia Khudadadi, Paralympic medalist and Champion for Peace, highlighted the importance of athlete representation:
“Giving athletes a voice in international fora is essential to shaping inclusive policies. Sport can be a powerful driver of dignity, equality, and hope.”
French long jump and triple jump Paralympic champion Arnaud Assoumani emphasised shifting societal attitudes:
“Sport, education, and culture can change the lives of vulnerable people. It’s time to stop dehumanizing, change the paradigm, and focus on abilities and issues that need fixing.”
Promoting Awareness Through Practical Experience
Before the conference, participants joined a blind football training session on the lawn of the Council of Europe. The activity aimed to raise awareness and offer a firsthand experience of adapted sports.