The first international forum of its kind brings together global leaders to approve a global framework for inclusive sport and physical education standards.
On the 27th-28th November 2025, the first International Forum for Inclusive Sport and Physical Education was held in Santiago, Chile. In attendance were more than 150 people from 35+ countries, including ministers, athletes, sports organisations, education, authorities and specialists in academia and inclusion. The forum was organised by UNESCO, Chile’s Ministry of Sport (MINDEP) and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) .
Attendees assessed where we are globally with inclusion in sports and physical education, and they discussed the persistent challenges to inclusive sports, such as infrastructure limitations and lack of training.
The forum highlighted:
- that people with disabilities should be able to fully exercise their right to take part in safe, equitable and quality sporting activities
- how inclusive sport and physical education can break down barriers and create opportunities
- that investing in inclusive support was also an investment in social cohesion, public health and human development
- the need for closer intersectoral cooperation, especially for training teachers and coaches.
“The message is clear: inclusive sport is a global priority and moving towards it depends on all of us. The real momentum lies with the Member States that lead the implementation of the Global Public Policy Standards for Inclusive, Equitable and Safe Sport and Physical Education, with institutions that dare to apply them, with the teachers and coaches who put them into practice, and with the athletes who show us how far inclusion can go,” – Lidia Brito, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences
During the meting, the Santiago Roadmap – Future in Play roadmap (developed by UNESCO, MINDEP and CAF) was presented. This is a comprehensive framework to help nations transform policies, practices and infrastructure.
A worldwide consultation will be heled in 2026 on the development of the Global Public Policy Standards for Inclusive, Equitable and Safe Sport and Physical Education. The standards recognise ‘sport as a right for all people’ and call for:
- support for data-driven inclusive investments
- capacity for the development of coaches, teachers and decision makers
- closer cooperation between education and sport systems
- stronger monitoring and knowledge system to ensure decisions are based on robust evidence.
Chile is particularly committed to this roadmap, with their Minister of Sport, Jaime Pizarro, explaining:
“As this Forum draws to a close, we can proudly say that we did it — that we can leave satisfied and pleased with the work carried out, because we now have something concrete to guide our steps in the coming years. We have a clear Roadmap to make good on the advances from Baku, Paris and Asunción, which will be implemented with coordinated and measurable efforts. As the host country, I want to reiterate our strong commitment to sports policy and to social inclusion in our region, and to reiterate that sport is, and must continue to be, a powerful driver of development.”
Reference
- UNESCO (2025) ‘The future of inclusive sport and education is already in play’. Available at: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/future-inclusive-sport-and-education-already-play?hub=701 (Accessed: 01 December 2025)
