New Delhi: The French Institute in India (IFI) and the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) have launched Para Élan, a new Indo-French initiative aimed at promoting inclusion through sports and education.
The first event of the initiative, “Para Élan: Sabka Maidan,” brought together around 300 students from government and private schools. The programme introduced students to para-sports and gave them an opportunity to interact with para-athletes while learning and participating alongside their peers.
The event was attended by H.E. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India; Dr. Narendra Singh, President of the Para Athletics Federation of India; Sharad Kumar, Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist in para high jump, along with the Assistant Director of the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi.
The initiative seeks to help young people understand para-sports, experience adapted sporting activities and develop greater awareness of inclusion and diversity.
France said its commitment to para-sports is rooted in the values of the Paralympic movement, including respect, diversity, acceptance and the determination to overcome challenges.
The broader sports partnership between France and India focuses on sharing expertise in talent development and performance, supporting India’s sporting ambitions and promoting an inclusive sports culture, particularly in schools and universities.
Building on the momentum of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and France’s National Sport and Disability Strategy 2030, Para Élan aims to create sporting spaces where athletes and para-athletes can participate together without distinction.
The initiative reflects a shared vision that inclusion should not remain limited to discussions, but should be experienced through participation, education and sport.