CAF promotes sports inclusion for people with disabilities at important regional summits

Juan Pablo Salazar, Director of Inclusion of People with Disabilities at CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, actively participated in the recent summits of the Ibero-American Sports Council (CID) and the South American Sports Council (CONSUDE), held from April 22 to 24 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

During these important regional meetings, which were attended by ministers, secretaries, and national sports directors from the region, including Jamaica's Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, Salazar presented the strategies and projects that CAF is promoting to foster inclusion through sports.

At the CID summit, Salazar discussed the collaborative work between CAF and UNESCO on education and sports, focused on measuring the impact of inclusion policies. A joint roadmap was also established for the upcoming meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) to be held in Santiago, Chile.

"Sport is a transformative tool that allows us to change perceptions and break down barriers. At CAF, we are convinced that through inclusive public sports policies, we can build more equitable and cohesive societies," stated Juan Pablo Salazar. "Our work with UNESCO and other strategic partners enables us to amplify this impact and ensure that inclusion is an integral part of sports development throughout the region."

Meanwhile, at the CONSUDE summit, the presentation focused on the project that CAF is developing in the Caribbean with the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC). This initiative aims to strengthen the National Paralympic Committees of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados through an approach that includes diagnosing public sports policies, analyzing infrastructure, training sports administrators, and conducting specialized workshops for coaches and technical officials.

Ana Baiardi, CAF's Manager of Gender, Inclusion and Diversity, highlighted the importance of these interventions: "These projects represent CAF's commitment to building more inclusive societies through sports. We work under the social model of disability paradigm, understanding that barriers to inclusion are not found in individuals, but in environments. Our goal is to create accessible sports ecosystems that allow for the full development of all people, regardless of their physical or cognitive conditions."

During the event, bilateral meetings were also held with various sports authorities from the region, which strengthened cooperation ties and coordinated joint actions aimed at promoting inclusive sports.

CAF's presence at these important regional sports forums reflects the institution's firm commitment to inclusion and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, using sport as a catalyst for social change and as a tool for the effective implementation of the social model of disability.