Sports and Inclusion

Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games (Paris, 29 August 2024)

On the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games, the Minister for Disabilities addressed the High-Level Ministerial Forum co-organized by UNESCO and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The address underscored the strategic role of sports in enhancing personal well-being, fostering self-awareness and autonomy, and promoting full social inclusion.

Special Olympics World Winter Games – Turin 2025 (Turin, 8–16 March 2025)

Italy hosted the Special Olympics World Winter Games for the first time in Turin from 8 to 16 March 2025. The event convened over 1,500 athletes, 621 coaches, 3,000 volunteers, and more than 300,000 spectators across eight sports disciplines (alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, floorball, figure skating, speed skating, and dance sport). Speaking at the opening ceremony at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, the Minister for Disabilities highlighted the event's cultural impact in fostering a shift toward recognizing individual human potential rather than limitations.

Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games (6–15 March 2026)

Held from 6 to 15 March 2026, the XIV Winter Paralympic Games of Milano Cortina marked a landmark event for Italy from a sporting, institutional, and cultural perspective. During the opening ceremony held at the Verona Arena, the dedication of paralympic athletes was celebrated alongside the role of sports as a catalyst for personal growth, inclusion, and equal opportunity. Universal design (Design for All) principles served as a cornerstone for infrastructure planning across both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, setting high standards for universal accessibility and social inclusion.