AccessibAll was very pleased to see the European Parliament passed a resolution that recognises the strength of the European Sport Model, particularly highlighting the strong focus on its social purpose.

The resolution, led by Polish MEP and former Minister for Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski, specifically references the importance of intensifying efforts to promote safe, inclusive and accessible sport for all, with a focus on improving the accessibility of sports infrastructure.

It also stresses the need to ensure the inclusion of disabled people in all sports contexts, including involvement in governance and decision-making processes.

An explanatory statement posted on the European Parliament website says, "While the application of the European Sport Model may vary across sports, the core values and governance standards it embodies are universal. These include human rights, equality, diversity, inclusion, and the broader principles of the European social model. To this end, the report calls on all actors to increase efforts to ensure safe, inclusive and equal sport, with particular attention to supporting gender equality, tackling all forms of violence and harassment and making sport infrastructure more accessible".

The resolution has been warmly welcomed by AccessibAll, who have worked across Europe for over 15 years to harness the unique power of live sport to bring about wider inclusion for disabled people, from the stadiums to the wider society.

Our industry-leading stadium access appraisal programme has seen over 200 venues assessed by our experts, with detailed reporting and recommendations for future improvement. We have also delivered our Disability Access Officer training to over 1,500 trainees, helping to implement skilled and supportive dedicated points of contact for disabled fans in over 40 countries.

With over one billion living across the globe, disabled people constitute the world's largest minority group yet are still often vastly underrepresented within our society.

"For us at AccessibAll, this is really an important step. Disabled fans and athletes are not 'a special category' - they are part of the real heart of European sport. Recognising this on EU level means more support and also many more reasons to make clubs, stadiums and competitions truly open for all. We are happy to support the change, alongside UEFA and fellow partners"

• Olivier Jarosz, AccessibAll CEO

UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin, also welcomed the publication of the resolution. He said, "The European Parliament has once again delivered a clear and powerful message on behalf of EU citizens: Europe stands up for its football model, which serves society as a whole, not just the profit of a few. Football is a unique European success story. It is now time for the EU and national governments to further support it by providing the safeguards needed to ensure it continues to lead globally while staying rooted in communities".

We look forward to continuing to be part of this positive change, helping to make these commitments a reality and ensuring that the sports industry is truly welcoming and inclusive for disabled people.

Published 8/10/2025