With the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games about to commence, world experts have gathered in the French capital to discuss how Para sport can be a catalyst to advance the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities.

Titled "The International Disability Inclusion Conference: Harnessing the transformational impact of Para sport," the groundbreaking event is taking place at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters and will be attended by athletes, leaders in the private sector, and government representatives. 

Over the two days, attendees will be looking at ways they can encourage investment from all sectors in inclusive sports and physical activity to further disability inclusion for the world’s 1.3 billion persons with disabilities.

"By uniting so much expertise, knowledge and brainpower in one room, we aim to create a call to action on how we can all harness the transformational impact of Para sport to advance the rights and opportunities for the world’s 1.3 billion persons with disabilities," said International Paralympic Committee president, Andrew Parsons. 

"At the IPC we truly believe that Change Starts with Sport. With a record cumulative TV audience of 4.25 billion expected to watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, we have the perfect platform to bring the important decision-makers and persons of influence to the table for the first time to really leverage the incredible power of the Paralympics to create a more inclusive world."

The multistakeholder Partners Forum focused on five key themes today, each of which will showcase expertise and good practices from around the world through a series of impact talks and panel discussions.

The five themes are:
•    Fostering more inclusive societies through Para sport and physical activity
•    Accessible infrastructure and equipment
•    Persons with disabilities: Holders of cultural rights at the forefront of inclusivity and cultural diversity
•    Inclusive quality physical education and play
•    Breaking down barriers through data-driven sport policies and programmes

Amongst the 30 speakers and panellists for Tuesday’s sessions are Paralympian Marie Amelie Le Fur, President of the French Paralympic and Sport Committee; Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4; Juan Pablo Salazar, Inclusion Co-ordinator at the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean; Suzanne Edwards, Head of Hosting Accessibility Standards at Airbnb; and James Chiutsi, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Malawi.

Wednesday’s Ministerial Forum will examine how governments can make innovative policy changes to further inclusive and accessible sport opportunities as well as explore ways to increase investment in Para sport. 

A line-up of speakers for Wednesday includes government ministers of sport from the likes of Canada, France, Italy, Australia, Mongolia, and Colombia. The forum will also hear from the youngest athlete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Ugandan Husnah Kukundakwe, who will share the story of the transformational impact Para sport has had on her life.

Eleven Paralympians were scheduled to speak over the two days including British Paralympic swimmer Liz Johnson who will serve as moderator and IPC CEO Mike Peters who will provide closing remarks on Wednesday.