International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons and Paralympian Ileana Rodriguez were both speakers at the Sports for Sustainable Development Summit in Paris, France, on Thursday (25 July), calling upon world leaders to expand the number of accessible and inclusive sport facilities worldwide.

Organised by the French President and the International Olympic Committee, with support from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Summit brought together 500 attendees including Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organisations, athletes and representatives of the sporting movement, and development finance stakeholders, on the eve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony.

During his address at the “Carrousel de Louvre”, Parsons spoke about how persons with disabilities are often left behind when it comes to the inclusion agenda but stressed that Para sport could play a key role in changing the world. 

“We cannot achieve equality and inclusion in our world until our cities are accessible, our schools inclusive, and the right of access to sport for the world’s 1.3 billion persons with disabilities is a reality,” said Parsons.

“At the IPC we believe that Change Starts with Sport.

“Our Para Sport development programmes deliver transformational change in over 180 countries. Access to Para sport galvanises persons with disabilities to pursue healthy, active lifestyles and active roles in society.

“Through the Paralympic Games, we witness how the performances of Paralympians inspire seismic shifts in attitudes, empower persons with disabilities, and transform societies, where cities and governments change legislation and improve infrastructure.”

Speaking after the IPC President was Ileana Rodriguez. The former Para swimmer who was the Chef de Mission of the Paralympic Refugee Team at Tokyo 2020, shared with Summit attendees her “life changing experience” competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

“The impact of the London 2012 Paralympic Games was monumental.

“Post-Games research said one in three persons changed their attitudes towards disability. Para athletes performing on the field of play, changed the attitudes of 20 million British people.”

Today, Rodriguez is one of the world’s leading architects when it comes to accessibility and was keen to share her view on inclusion.

“When it comes to inclusion, the issue is not the person with the disability, it’s the environment, the barriers in our way to fulfil our daily lives,” said Rodriguez.

“The world would be a much better place if every person had freedom of movement through accessible infrastructure. We are not talking about charity here, we are talking about human rights, and a great return on investment that benefit everyone.

“When inclusion is not an afterthought, absolutely everyone can succeed in life.”

During the Summit, countries and sport stakeholders made clear their determination to ensure that sport contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. Various actors were invited to support the 10 tangible commitments of the Paris Agreement for Sport and Sustainable Development.

Commitment 7 under the header equality and inclusion reads: “To make physical activity and sport accessible to all, given that one in three women do not manage to practice sufficient physical activity and that 15 per cent of the world’s population has a disability, with a particular focus on the situation of refugees.

As part of this commitment, the IPC announced that it will provide expertise in the design of accessible infrastructure, with the IPC Accessibility Guide included as criteria for all sport infrastructure projects funded by Coalition for Sport for Sustainable Development members.