IPC Urges Government Collaboration on Disability Inclusion

Author: International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
Published: 22 Jun 2026
Publication Type: Reports & Proceedings

Contents: Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Publications

Synopsis: This article reports on remarks delivered by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Kristina Molloy at UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) meeting in Paris on 15 June 2026, where she called on governments to speed up disability inclusion through the Paris 2024 Call to Action. It is useful for readers who want to understand the gap between the accessibility showcased at the Paralympic Games and the everyday barriers - in transportation, education and employment - that athletes and the world's 1.3 billion people with disabilities face when the events end. For people with disabilities, seniors and disability advocates, the piece offers a clear look at the policy areas the IPC identifies for systemic change, including accessible infrastructure, Para sport programming, representation, inclusive physical education and research, along with concrete evidence of how host nations such as the United Kingdom, France and Italy have invested in lasting accessibility improvements.*

At a Glance

• 1 - In the UK, one million more persons with disabilities were employed in the four years following the London 2012 Games.
• 2 - France invested 1.5 billion euros in accessibility and inclusion initiatives nationwide ahead of Paris 2024.
• 3 - 73 percent of people who watched the Paralympic Games believe more must be done to drive social inclusion across society.

Topic Definition: Disability Inclusion

Disability inclusion is the practice of designing policies, environments, services and opportunities so that people with disabilities can participate fully and equally in all areas of life, including education, employment, transportation, sport and civic engagement. Rather than treating accessibility as an accommodation added after the fact, it embeds the removal of physical, social, attitudinal and systemic barriers into the way institutions and societies operate. In the context of sport, disability inclusion ranges from grassroots Para sport participation to elite competition, and it relies on coordinated action among governments, sport organizations, National Paralympic Committees and community partners to create durable, system-wide change.

Introduction

The International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kristina Molloy highlighted the power and illusion of the Paralympic Games as justification for governments to accelerate disability inclusion while speaking at UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) meeting in Paris, France, on Monday (15 June 2026).

Main Content

During a session involving government representatives, UN agencies, sport organisations and non-government partners, Molloy emphasised that one of the easiest ways to drive this acceleration is through implementation of the Paris 2024 Call to Action, a roadmap for governments to follow to strengthen policies and increase investments in disability inclusion.

"If you showed up at the Paralympic Games with no other context; experienced accessible venues, a barrier-free village and the highest level of competition that shows what people with a disability can achieve when barriers are removed - you could think that life is good for people with disabilities," explained Molloy. "And yet - when each of these athletes return home, they face barriers - to transportation, access to education, to employment... on a daily basis."

"The Games show what's possible, but the reality is very far from it. This is where our work together comes in. This is where all stakeholders have a responsibility to lean in to make a difference."

"Two years ago, we developed the Paris Call to Action that gives a clear outline of the areas where progress needs to be made: accessible infrastructure, Para sport programming, representation, inclusive physical education and data and research. These areas, in alignment with UNESCO's development of global policy standards - provide you and your governments with the tools for systemic change."

To underline her point on the power of the Paralympic Games, Molloy shared how the Paralympic Games consistently deliver transformational impact.

She said:

"In the UK, one million more persons with disabilities were employed four years following London 2012. In France, 1.5 billion euros were invested by the government of France in accessibility and inclusion initiatives across the country in advance of Paris 2024. In Italy, hundreds of millions of euros were invested in accessible transportation and tourism in Italy in advance of the recent Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games."

"These changes don't just happen where the Games are held. We also have evidence of how the Games change perception of disability, with 73% of people who watched the Paralympic Games believing in the need to do more to drive social inclusion at all levels of society."

According to Molloy, the IPC's work alone cannot drive inclusion for the world's 1.3 billion persons with disabilities, it has to be a collaborative effort. She urged governments to work closer with the expertise within their respective National Paralympic Committees and invest greater funds into the development of grassroots Para sport participation.

Molloy noted:

"The IPC invests millions each year across our member countries in creating opportunities for Para sport. The reality is that these efforts will never be successful if the system itself, including sport policy and legislation, is not inclusive and specific to persons with disabilities."

"At the IPC we believe that Change Starts with Sport. Let's tackle these changes together, and unlock an inclusive world that exists well beyond the Paralympic Games."

The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) aims to support governments to develop and implement evidence-based sport and physical education policies. The meetings are a touchpoint to assess implementation of various policy mechanisms including the Paris 2024 Call to Action.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and published on 22 Jun 2026, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.