The Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, reaffirms the Ministry’s commitment to Paralympic sport as a lever for inclusion due to ‘its absolute transformative effect’.
The Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, is accompanying the Spanish athletes taking part in the Paralympic Games being held in Paris until 8 September throughout today, Friday 30 and tomorrow, 31 September. ‘We are here to show our full support for our athletes and to congratulate them not only for their results in the form of medals but also for the path that has brought them here. They are sublimely upholding the values of sport: inclusion, self-improvement, effort and excellence. These are values that make them a reference for society as a whole, explained the minister.
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Spanish athletes in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
The Spanish representation in this 17th edition of the Paralympic Games is made up of 150 athletes and their teams, who represent our country and, in particular, the more than 4.5 million people with disabilities in Spain. Altogether, 139 Spanish athletes, plus 11 support athletes, will compete in 16 of the 22 disciplines in the competition. In addition, it is the second team with the largest presence of women, with 54 athletes, ‘very good news that reflects the fact that here too we continue to take steps towards equality’, celebrated Saiz.
‘These games have an objective that goes beyond sport, which is to try to transform society’s conception of disability. The example of these athletes is making Spaniards see disability in a much more positive and inclusive way’.
Minister Elma Saiz reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment and conviction in the transformative effect of sport. ‘We are convinced that sport is a very effective lever for inclusion, it has a multiplier effect. That is why we consider the work of the Spanish Paralympic Committee to be so important.
An example of the collaboration between the two institutions is the agreement reached by the Ministry last June to assign premises owned by the General Social Security Treasury (TGSS) to the Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE) free of charge for 20 years. These premises will allow the EPC to have its headquarters for the first time since its creation in 1995, which will contribute to giving greater visibility to Paralympic sport.
The new headquarters, located in the emblematic Princesa Building in Madrid, will house the offices and institutional headquarters of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, as well as spaces for interdisciplinary services such as medicine, physiology, nutrition or psychology, as well as meeting and event rooms, open to the Paralympic movement in general.
Paralympic Refugee Team
Elma Saiz will also visit the Paralympic Refugee Team in the Olympic Village, made up of 8 refugee athletes from 6 countries who represent more than 120 million forcibly displaced people around the world.
‘These events serve to remind us that in other countries there are other realities, wars, conflicts, persecutions… As Minister of Migration, I want to show my support to these people who now have international protection, but who have gone through very hard experiences. They have had to flee their countries and leave their lives behind, with the additional challenge of their disability. They are people who find motivation and hope every day through sports. They are a true inspiration to us all.