Sport is a universal language that promotes personal well-being, social cohesion, and equality. For persons with disabilities, however, access to sport remains a persistent challenge. Despite legal recognition and increasing public attention, structural, cultural, and institutional barriers continue to hinder full participation. At the same time, sport is also a site of powerful transformation: from marginalisation to visibility, from therapeutic activity to elite competition. Understanding the historical development, the European legal framework, and recent policy actions is essential to advancing inclusive sport for all.

Origins and Evolution of Disability Sport

Disability sport has a long yet often overlooked history. The Silent Games—now Deaflympics—were held in Paris in 1924, marking the first international sporting event for athletes with disabilities. In the 1940s, British neurologist Dr. Ludwig Guttmann introduced sport as part of rehabilitation for spinal injury patients, which led to the first Stoke Mandeville Games and, eventually, the Rome 1960 Paralympic Games, thanks also to Italian doctor Antonio Maglio. From a rehabilitative origin, disability sport evolved into a competitive and social force, supporting integration and visibility.
This evolution parallels the shift from a culture that excluded people with disabilities—viewing them as fragile and incompatible with sporting ideals of strength and performance—to one that values diverse abilities and champions inclusion. The development of functional classification systems further signalled the growing legitimacy and complexity of Paralympic sport, acknowledging performance impact rather than medical diagnosis alone.

What do European institutions say about disability and sport?

The EU’s approach to disability and sport is rooted in fundamental rights, non-discrimination, and equal opportunity. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)—ratified by both the EU and its Member States—ensures equal access to cultural, recreational, and sporting life (Article 30). The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 26), Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), and Principle 17 of the European Pillar of Social Rights reinforce these commitments.

Since the Lisbon Treaty (2009), the EU has a supporting competence in sport, meaning it can promote and coordinate action but not legislate directly. The European Commission’s 2011 Communication on Sport frames sport as a tool for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth, and recognises its social value for persons with disabilities.
This normative foundation has been operationalised through two strategic policy cycles:

• The European Disability Strategy 2010–2020 sought to implement the CRPD and remove barriers to sport participation. It promoted accessibility in sport venues, supported disability-specific events, and encouraged mainstreaming.

• The current Strategy 2021–2030 builds on this, providing a comprehensive framework for action. It reinforces the role of sport in well-being, calls for greater cooperation with sport organisations, and promotes inclusive coaching and facility design, aligning with the Universal Design approach.

What is the EU doing to promote access to sport?

Despite structural limitations, the EU has launched various initiatives to support sport inclusion:

• Erasmus+ Sport has funded over 50 projects promoting participation of persons with disabilities, awareness-raising, coach training, and toolkits for inclusive practices.
• The Council Conclusions (2019) call on Member States to support education and training of sport professionals, improve accessibility, and share best practices.
• The European Parliament (2017) urged Member States to implement inclusive sport curricula and provide adapted programmes in schools and universities.
• The Committee of the Regions (2014) emphasised the need for inclusive federations and targeted coach education.
The INCLUSEA project, for example, developed accessible methodologies for adapted surfing. It showcases how inclusive sport is enabled through scientific knowledge, organisational cooperation, and policy alignment.

Furthermore, the 2025 establishment of the National Authority for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Italy reflects a growing alignment between EU recommendations and national implementation strategies, promoting inclusive sport as a tool of civic empowerment.

Barriers and Facilitators to Participation

Persons with disabilities continue to face:
• Architectural and infrastructural barriers, such as inaccessible facilities and non-adapted equipment;
• Social and cultural barriers, including stigma, stereotypes, and lack of visibility;
• Economic barriers, such as high costs of specialised equipment and limited public support.

Effective participation is supported by:
• Inclusive planning through Universal Design;
• Empowerment via peer role models and local champions;
• Intersectoral collaboration involving schools, municipalities, sport bodies, and disability organisations;
• Proper functional classification systems, which enhance fair competition and athlete recognition.

Sport thus evolves from a space of integration—where persons with disabilities are simply accommodated—to a space of inclusion, where diversity is a shared value and resource.

Conclusion

Access to sport for persons with disabilities is not a marginal issue—it is a matter of human rights, social justice, and public policy. The EU has built a strong normative and strategic foundation to support inclusion, even within its limited competence. It has funded impactful projects, encouraged national alignment, and embraced a modern, relational understanding of disability.

The path forward involves closing the gap between policy and practice. This means:

• Harmonising data collection,
• Ensuring universal accessibility,
• Mainstreaming inclusive practices in education, sport clubs, and infrastructure,
• And recognising persons with disabilities not as passive recipients, but as active co-creators of inclusive sport systems.
Only through this collective effort can sport truly become a space for all, by all.