Última Hora
October 2, 2024
Luis Ramírez, Minister of Education and Culture, Paraguay
César Ramírez, Minister of Sports, Paraguay
Claudia Echeverry, President and Director, Special Olympics Latin America
Paraguay is playing a pivotal role in the field of inclusion in the region. As a demonstration of this commitment, from October 4 to 12, Asunción will host more than 1,000 athletes from across the hemisphere to compete in the IV Latin American Special Olympics Games, sponsored by the state. It has been known for decades that sports are a powerful tool for social change; they foster community, promote inclusion, and empower athletes. Sports, along with education, are a fundamental tool for development, especially for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As we approach the Latin American Regional Games, it is opportunity to reflect on the critical importance of both.
In the region, people with intellectual disabilities face obstacles in obtaining a fair and equitable education. In Latin America and the Caribbean, only 16% of countries have inclusive education laws, while 42% still promote segregation.
Paraguay is at the forefront with the Unified Schools (US) and Unified Champion Schools (UCS) programs. Supported by Special Olympics—a global movement that seeks to end discrimination against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—these centers offer opportunities for young people, both with and without intellectual disabilities, to learn from each other and build friendships that transcend differences through sports competitions, clubs, and activities involving the entire school community.
In April 2024, Paraguay became the first South American nation to join the Special Olympics Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion, committing to ensuring inclusive educational spaces and training teachers on the subject. This commitment is based on the success of the "Open Schools" program, which offers sports and cultural activities to 11,000 students in 150 schools on weekends, promoting equal educational opportunities. Paraguay aims to expand this program to 200 schools this year, with even greater expansion plans for the future.
One of the most notable examples is in Chaco, where the "Open Schools" program has introduced activities such as music classes, which were previously inaccessible to students in resource-limited communities. It is in our local communities where perceptions begin to change and where the transformation towards real inclusion occurs.
Schools are also fundamental centers for promoting inclusive sports such as physical education and sports clubs, which strengthen inclusion and enrich the learning environment. While they can be underestimated, sports are a powerful educational tool that promotes inclusion and changes attitudes.
Thus, the country is working collaboratively from the Ministries of Education and Sports with a shared vision of inclusion, both in the classroom and on the playing field. This is unprecedented. And this collaboration between ministries and Special Olympics has demonstrated the value of sports as a driver of change in our educational system, making Paraguay a model of inclusion with a global impact. We are building a social infrastructure that fosters truly inclusive attitudes, as we know that creating inclusive educational systems is often cost-effective and only requires minimal adjustments to accommodate all students, according to UNESCO.
We are proud that Latin America is a center of inclusion where change happens daily, and even more so that Paraguay plays a central role in this movement towards a more inclusive society, recognized globally.
We invite you to support and be part of the Latin American Games in Asunción, to witness the power and potential of inclusive sports and education represented by the Special Olympics athletes. You will witness inclusion firsthand.
