Dear colleagues and partners,
Today, some of the world’s most formidable athletes will start competing in one of the highlights of the sporting calendar – it’s time for Paralympians to take centre stage!
Among the athletes are at least eight refugees, and we will be cheering them (and all the competitors) on, hoping to see more inspiring moments of communion and - why not? - more medals added after the Refugee Olympic Teams’ historic bronze earlier this month.
We know how powerful sport can be, as a unifier, providing safe spaces and feelings of belonging, enabling integration and peaceful coexistence between refugees and their host communities, while improving mental and physical health at low costs. For refugees, stateless, and other displaced people, it can be a lifeline.
But in order to have these benefits, access to sporting facilities, clubs, and safe spaces must be available. For everyone.
For many refugees and displaced people, there is simply no access to sporting facilities. Even when the facilities exist, due to dangerous locations and lack of transport, accessing them safely can be a challenge.
And for those who are neurodiverse and people with disabilities, finding and accessing suitable facilities can be nigh on impossible.
Levelling the playing field and providing access for everyone is a huge challenge. Thankfully, the Global Compact on Refugees stakeholders know it is not insurmountable. So, as the final preparations are made before the 2024 Paralympic Games kick off in Paris, we would like to celebrate some of the many stakeholders working to ensure everyone can thrive, highlighting the transformative powers sports and equitable access can deliver.
The Global Compact on Refugees Coordination Team
