Mon, December 15, 2025
Study by ParalympicsGB reveals how effective the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was in encouraging disabled people to become more active
Following a poll conducted before and after the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, it has been revealed that the confidence levels of disabled people within sport and physical activity are the lowest, compared to in other areas of their life such as work and education, but that the Paralympic Games helped boost confidence. 71% of respondents said they felt confident at work, 56% in public, 53% in education, 47% on public transport and only 31% said they felt confident during sport or physical activity.
Roughly a third (32%) of respondents stated other people – not including staff or coaches - disregard their needs within sport and physical activity. 36% stated non-coaching staff fail to consider their needs and 33% said the same about coaching staff and trainers.
A 39-year-old neurodivergent male expressed within the survey: “To make me feel more included in sports, ensure facilities are accessible and offer adaptive programs tailored to various needs. Train staff to understand and support disabled athletes and promote a culture of inclusivity by encouraging teamwork and reducing stigma.”
According to the survey, children aged between 12-15 face the most limitations when it comes to having their sport and physical needs met. 51% of children stated sport and physical activity environments disregard their specific needs.
Therefore, ParalympicsGB is encouraging the government to continue backing Equal Play, which is an athlete endorsed campaign which was created during the Paris Games to ensure disabled children are not outcasts in physical education and school sport by the next Paralympics in 2028.
The four areas ParalympicsGB has called for the campaign to focus on include:
- Empower teachers with the right tools, understanding and resources to deliver truly inclusive PE.
- Adapt teacher training to ensure the next generation of teachers have the skills and confidence to deliver truly inclusive PE.
- Redefine how PE is seen within the school curriculum, ensuring it becomes a priority across the education system.
- Increase the number of disabled people entering the teaching profession.
On a positive note, however, disabled people who watched or attended the Paris 2024 Games are more likely to feel confident about participating in physical activity (64%) compared to those who did not watch or attend (48%). When asked if they felt confident to participate in physical activity during the ‘contemplation’ stages, the number increased from 45% to 57% due to the Games.
Paralympics GB CEO, David Clarke, voiced: “At ParalympicsGB, our vision is clear: to inspire a better world for disabled people through the power of sport. By harnessing the influence of the Paralympic Games and amplifying the voices of Paralympians, we aim to challenge perceptions and drive lasting change - ensuring fair, equitable access to sport, physical activity, and education for all…
This report is a call to listen, act, and collaborate. It urges us to build environments where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to participate - and to move beyond identifying barriers to becoming agents of progress.”
81% of children who participated in Get Set, ParalympicsGB and Team GB’s youth programme, stated they were more aware of the importance of treating disabled people equally, 70% stated that they or their child became more active due to the programme.
75% of attendees at ParalympicsGB’s Every Body Moves Campaign, powered by Toyota, stated that the event made them more aware of the barriers disabled people face within physical activity and sport.
The full report can be found here.
Research company Savanta’s methodology can be found here.
