The Commonwealth Games give para sport a unique platform. But real inclusion is still a battle

This year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow mark a historic moment for disability sport: forty-seven para medal events across six sports, with more than four hundred fifty athletes competing. The very first medal will be awarded in para powerlifting. What makes this milestone significant is the integration — para events run alongside the general competition, giving disabled athletes equal visibility and their medals count toward their nation's tally. But The Conversation notes there's a sharp contrast at the grassroots level. Despite this elite-level progress, disabled people remain significantly less likely to participate in sport than non-disabled people, facing overlapping barriers: overly cautious attitudes from coaches and families, inaccessible venues, high participation costs, and a chronic shortage of accessible local programs. Addressing real inclusion requires moving beyond showcasing elite athletes to removing these structural barriers and, critically, including disabled people in the decisions that shape sports programs.

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