International Conference: ‘Identities and Representation for an Inclusive Sports Culture’

Next Friday, June 27th, the city of Pamplona will host a key event in the field of sports and inclusion: the International Conference ‘Identities and Representation for an Inclusive Sports Culture’. The conference will take place in the Press Room of the Casa del Deporte, located at Plaza Aizagerria, 1, CP 31006 Pamplona, ​​as part of the Mixed Ability Games, Inclusion and Coproduction (MAGIC 2025), an Erasmus+ project supported by the European Commission and under the patronage of UNESCO.

A space for dialogue and inclusion

The conference aims to foster in-depth reflections on how cultural identities and representations influence the creation of more inclusive sports spaces. Various experts with lived experience, academics, and representatives of international organisations will share their knowledge and perspectives on practices that promote equity, diversity, and universal participation in sports. The Mixed Ability Games, Inclusion and Coproduction (MAGIC) project, of which this conference is a part, aims to break down barriers by fostering a collaborative and intersectional approach to designing sports experiences. This approach not only advocates for equal opportunities but emphasises co-production and collaboration between people with and without disabilities.

A project with a European and global stamp

The support of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme and the patronage of UNESCO underscore the event’s quality and relevance. Both organisations have reaffirmed the importance of inclusion as a fundamental pillar for social and cultural development. The conference promises to be a catalyst for European and international organisations seeking to implement inclusive models in their respective communities.

Those who want to attend can register on Eventbrite HERE!

A call to action

In the intentions of the organisers, IMAS, IMAS Spain, and Iruña Rugby Club, attendees will have the opportunity to interact and share first-hand knowledge, to then return to their communities with a renewed commitment to implementing Mixed Ability and supporting equity in other areas of life. In this sense, the conference is a unique opportunity to reflect, learn, and contribute to the development of a sports culture that embraces diversity and celebrates our very individualities.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

9:30 Registration

10:00 Welcome and Key Note addresses

Martino Corazza –IMAS Co-founder and Director

Miguel Indurain – Fundación Miguel Indurain

Dª Elma Saiz Delgado, Minister for Inclusion, Security and Migration (Spanish Government)

10:30 Round tables

Panel 1 – From ‘them’ to ‘us’. Identities and representation in community sports.

Presence matters. Role models matter. Sharing the same places, rules and times do matter. So why are still so many people missing from community grassroots sports? Taking the Mixed Ability journey into account, this panel will focus on the intersectional aspects of exclusion and discuss solutions to create safe, welcoming and non-judgmental sporting environments where everyone can belong and thrive.

• Anna Meraglia: Manager Sudamérica XV, Rugby Mixed Ability and Head Coach Buxers Baloncesto Mixed Ability – IMAS Sudamérica (Argentina)
• Sandra Muñoz Pérez: Subdirectora del Instituto Navarro del Deporte y de la Actividad Física, Promoción del deporte y la actividad física. (España)
• Ellen Buttrick: PLY MBE Love Rowing Trustee, IMAS Ambassador, Churchill Fellow (England)

Chairs: Mark Goodwin and Ella Sky (IMAS)

Panel 2 – From pitch to employment. Mixed Ability and skills for life in an inclusive job market.

This panel aims to discuss how Mixed Ability – through parity of participation in community sport – enables the acquisition and development of skills and competences that can be transferred to other domains of life. Focusing on access to opportunities, supported employment, independent living and quality of life, the discussion will feature individuals, researchers, policy makers and case studies from organisations that have implemented programmes or supported the journey of Mixed Ability participants into achieving an independent life.

• Luigi Buson – UN-ILO Training Centre Torino (Italia)
• Borja Jordán de Urries – INICO University of Salamanca (España)
• Alan Craughwell – Assistive (Irlanda)
• Amaya Sabalza Gallues – Tasubinsa (España)

Chair: Barry Horne MBE – IMAS Chair

Panel 3 – From local to global. Ideas sustainability and systemic impact.

This panel aims to discuss how ESG and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives within the private sector can facilitate systemic change at the wider community level and benefit a variety of stakeholders. Using the example of IMART and Flutter’s Positive Impact Plan, we will uncover how businesses can enhance their CRS work by partnering with third sector organisations, and the positive impact such collaborations can have on both the companies and the communities they serve.

• Marco Di Buono – President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities (Canadá)
• Ignacio Landa – Director General Smurfit Westrock (España)
• Arancha Rubio Granje – Acción Social Caixabank (España)

Chair: Ciara Peers – Flutter Entertainment (Irlanda)

12:00 Plenary – Restitution of the panel discussions

12:30 Keynote closure

Esther Martín Ortega, Director of Fundación Flutter

13:00 Closing and refreshments

The organisation would like to thank the European Commission, Flutter Foundation, Smurfit Westrock, the Government of Navarra, the Navarre Institute of Sport and Physical Activity, Pamplona City Council, the Miguel Induráin Foundation, the La Caixa Foundation, the Public University of Navarra, INICO of the University of Salamanca, and many other partners for their support.