Innovation for Inclusion: marking the 2026 Winter Paralympics with a Disability Sport reception in Rome

Last week the Global Disability Innovation Hub were delighted to join David Burton OBE, British Chargé d’Affaires Ad Interim to Italy, at the British Ambassador’s Residence, Villa Wolkonsky in Rome for a reception on inclusive participation and the power of disability sports legacy.   With opening addresses by the Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, UK Minister for Social Security and Disability and Hon. Alessandra Locatelli, Italian Minister for Disabilities the reception and panel reflected on participation and its role in stigma reduction. Highlighting the barriers, particularly those additional challenges faced by low- middle- income countries (LMICs), the panel considered the role of governance, policy, infrastructure and the media.