From 28 August to 8 September, Paris will host the Paralympic Games for the first time: the city will be alive with the presence of 4,400 athletes competing in 549 sports. This is a unique opportunity to implement a public policy of accessibility, exemplified by the adidas Arena and the Georges Vallerey swimming pool.

The President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons,has praised these efforts, describing them as an "inclusion revolution" that has made Paris more accessible than ever before in its history. "Today, Paris is more accessible and inclusive than at any time in its rich history," said Parsons, highlighting the far-reaching impact on the city's 185,000 residents with disabilities, as well as its many visitors.

Alongside Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor of Paris responsible for Sport, Olympic and Paralympic Games and Seine, and Lamia El Aaraje, Deputy Mayor of Paris responsible for Urbanism, Architecture, Greater Paris, Universal Accessibility and Persons with Disabilities, Parsons highlighted initiatives including the development of 17 Enhanced Accessibility Neighbourhoods, which ensure that key public services are within a 15-minute walk of every home. The city has also revamped its transport infrastructure, adding fully accessible bus and tram lines and introducing 1,000 accessible taxis.

By 2025, Paris aims to have 95% of its municipal buildings accessible, a dramatic increase from just 45% in 2022. Other projects include the installation of 10,400 sound modules at road junctions to help the visually impaired, and a plan to ensure that at least one accessible school is within walking distance of every location by 2030.

Parsons acknowledged that while these advances are remarkable, challenges remain - most notably in the city's metro system, which has lagged behind in terms of accessibility. However, he highlighted the progress made since Paris was awarded the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2017.

"Paris has made more progress on accessibility in the last seven years than any other Paralympic host city," he noted, urging that these improvements should be seen as just the beginning of an ongoing effort to improve accessibility.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, Paris has made significant investments to increase the participation of people with disabilities in sport. More than €10 million has been allocated to improve the accessibility of six major sports facilities, including the historic Georges Vallerey swimming pool and the Pierre de Coubertin stadium. These improvements are part of a wider effort to build a strong foundation for Para sport in Paris.

The city's commitment to inclusive sport extends to the Club Inclusif initiative, which aims to create a network of Para-friendly clubs across Paris. Initially targeting 40 clubs by 2024, the programme has already exceeded expectations, with 44 clubs now part of the network. This success has led to the expansion of the programme nationwide, as announced by President Emmanuel Macron in May 2023.

Parsons praised these achievements, particularly the transformation of historic venues into accessible spaces. "Making a venue like the Georges Vallerey swimming pool, which has been part of Paris since 1924, accessible is a tremendous achievement," he said. "It shows that accessibility is possible in even the oldest and most iconic buildings."

Looking ahead, Parsons stressed the importance of continuing these efforts beyond the Paralympic Games. "The improvements made over the last seven years should be seen as the beginning of an accessibility journey, not the end," he urged. "I hope that the progress we've seen in the run-up to the Games continues long after the Closing Ceremony on 8 September."

The Brazilian head of the IPC added that "Paralympic sport is stronger than ever" and Paris is a "fantastic city" that will host events in "iconic venues" such as blind football under the Eiffel Tower, equestrian events in the gardens of Versailles and fencing and taekwondo at the Grand Palais.

Parsons highlighted the "impact" the Paris Paralympics will have, as they will be broadcast in nearly 170 countries around the world, reaching a cumulative audience of around 4.2 billion people, more than previous editions.