United through sports, the IPF offers vital support towards the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA)’s vision to open the doors to more athletes with disabilities.
Federations play a vital role in nurturing growth and inclusion for youth with disabilities, by creating platforms for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and support. These networks bring together diverse organizations and stakeholders to pool their resources, exchange best practices, and develop unified strategies for addressing systemic barriers faced by young individuals with disabilities.
By promoting inclusivity through shared initiatives, federations can amplify advocacy efforts, improve accessibility to education, employment, and social opportunities, as well as ensure that youth with disabilities are represented in decision-making processes. The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) has been implementing inclusive approaches since 1989 and is now regarded as one of the most inclusive international federations. The IPF demonstrates its commitment through various initiatives and policies designed to ensure equitable participation for athletes of all abilities, genders, and backgrounds. Paralympic Integration has been demonstrated for years where the IPF collaborates with organizations like the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Special Olympics (SOI) to support powerlifters with disabilities. Through these efforts, it ensures that adaptive athletes have access to international competitions and pathways for athletic success, building a culture of respect and representation.
On November 15, 2024, the IPF welcomed 19 Special Olympics powerlifters to compete at the 2024 World Open Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Iceland. Athletes used the same equipment and venue as world champions, with their session professionally live-streamed on the Olympics YouTube channel, garnering over 20,000 views. The packed hall of supporters celebrated the athletes’ dedication, highlighted by three sisters sharing the podium in the women’s 84+kg class.
IPF President Gaston Parage reflected: “In sport, there are winners and losers, but in Iceland, we saw only winners. We can’t wait to host the Special Olympics once again in 2025.”
A meeting facilitated by UTS brought together IPF President Gaston Parage, Secretary General Robert Keller, and IFMA Vice President and Gender Equality Commission Chair Sue Glassey, joined by her colleague Raissa Remandaban Magnin, Sustainability Expert interlinking sport, public health and disability. In recent years, IFMA has adopted a more inclusive approach to their championships and initiatives inspired by UTS and joining our youth movement ensuring no youth are left behind. The World Combat Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia showcased unique Para and Special divisions for athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities. Further World Championship events have showcased the same efforts.
Federations such as IPF and IFMA work with dedication to provide guidance and training to member organizations, enhancing their ability to deliver tailored programs and policies that empower young people with disabilities to reach their full potential, thereby contributing to a more equitable and inclusive society.
IPF President Parage said: “It is so important to let the federation members understand what the benefits of being inclusive means for them. It is not that something is taken away in being inclusive, but rather bringing together humanity in a sport for all approach. There is much potential for further funding to assist the inclusive approach and most importantly, the joy it brings is for everybody to share together.”
Robert Keller, Chairman of the IPF Sports for All Commission said: ”The mission of the IPF Sports for All Commission recognizes the importance that athletes of all abilities should have access to the sport of powerlifting. The IPF is currently working with a variety of stakeholders to ensure inclusion of our athletes. Those stakeholders are United Through Sports, Special Olympics, Para-Powerlifting, and Blind Powerlifting. This cooperation ensures best practices, as well as to capacity building between organizations.”
Sue Glassey, Chair of IFMA’s Gender Equality Commission said: “At IFMA, we’re creating a Muaythai community where everyone truly belongs. We believe inclusivity goes beyond just participation – it’s about fostering an environment where every athlete feels valued and empowered, regardless of their abilities or background. Our goal is to provide a welcoming space where individuals can develop skills that boost their confidence both in and out of the ring. By breaking down barriers and embracing diversity, we’re opening doors for all to experience the transformative power of muaythai. Together, we’re building a sport where #EveryBody can discover their strength and potential, creating a more inclusive world one step at a time.“
Raissa Remandaban Magnin, working alongside Sue Glassey on this initiative as Sustainability Expert interlinking sport, public health and disability, said: “To ensure long term sustainability of IFMA’s efforts, programming will be infused at all levels to ensure the maximum accessibility of the sport from grassroots, national federations to the international spaces. The breadth of the initiatives will empower all stakeholders within the sports ecosystem from athletes, caregivers, coaches and communities. By building the capacity of coaching staff through the IFMA coaches certification programme will not only develop specialised skills to support neurodiverse athletes, but also increase economic opportunities for communities. The expansion of IFMA’s events will hopefully increase inclusivity of the sport while providing broader sport options for neurodiverse communities to explore. Through the breadth and depth approach, we believe it is a winning combination to achieve the greatest impact.”
UTS CEO Julia Govinden said: “Our role across the international sport community is a bridge towards inclusion of everybody. To support federations and inspire them in their quest towards greater inclusion is at the heart of our mission. Over the last years we have seen our influence spread to more IFs and NFs, which reinforces our dedication towards greater inclusion in sport. It is not just about breaking barriers; it’s about celebrating diversity and empowering everyone to thrive, regardless of ability.”
UTS Project Manager Michael Greiner said: ”Working alongside passionate federations like IPF and IFMA reminds me why we do what we do: to create opportunities where all youth feel like they belong and can shine. It’s not just about changing policies or frameworks; it’s about changing hearts and minds, celebrating differences, and proving that sport truly is for everyone.”
This meeting has planted seeds of inspiration for IFMA and the next step is to encourage further cross-federation discussions with an upcoming meeting to be held with the international Judo Federation (IJF) who are also promoting and have adopted an inclusive approach to their sport and competitions. By working together, the future of IF sports will see an increase in athlete participation, more opportunities for minority populations and the dismantling of stereotypes and impeding judgments held towards people with disabilities.
