Asunción, October 5, 2024 - The International Sports for Development Forum, an event that took place within the framework of the 4th Latin American Special Olympics Games, calls on society to recognize the transformative power of sports to promote social inclusion, health, education, and general well-being for people with intellectual disabilities. The Games occur in Asunción, Paraguay, from October 4th to the 12th.
The Forum, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay, Special Olympics Latin America, UNESCO, and CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean), and inaugurated by the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, aimed to address the persistent barriers faced by people with intellectual disabilities in Latin America and makes the following calls to action:
- Empower people with intellectual disabilities through sports
- Construction of accessible infrastructure
- Strengthening inclusive education
- Access to quality health care
- Data, research and impact investment
- Advancement in representation and visibility
This call to action seeks to mobilize governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector leaders, educators, and sports organizations to join forces in promoting the inclusion of people with IDD through collaborative actions and strategic investment strategies. It is based on the recommendations of experts and sector leaders who have identified the need for more integrated policies and increased investment for inclusion.
This Forum also explored sport as a key instrument for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially in the areas of health, education, gender equality, human mobility, poverty eradication, and the construction of resilient communities through the promotion of equal opportunities.
Likewise, it analyzed how sports can be used as a tool to empower people with intellectual disabilities, promote their participation in society, and guarantee the full exercise of their rights.
Finally, this forum sought a commitment to develop and foster an inclusive and sustainable approach to sport that benefits all people, regardless of ability.
National and international authorities and executives participated in the Forum, such as Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International; Ana María Baiardi, Gender, Inclusion and Diversity Manager, CAF; Jaime Pizarro, Minister of Sports of the Republic of Paraguay; Ray Quiñonez, Secretary of Sports, Puerto Rico; Fabricio Oliveira, President of Lions Club International; Sima Sami Bahoos, Executive Director of the UN, and Luis Ramírez, Minister of Education of Paraguay, to mention a few.