CISM SWITZERLAND AND PLUSPORT WORK TOGETHER

Inclusion in and through sports. The inclusion partnership with PluSport regarding the 5th Military World Winter Games is intended to help break down barriers, raise awareness and inspire people with and without disabilities to participate in sports together.

1/13/2025

The development of para-sports is one of the CISM's main concerns. Specifically, CISM aims to promote the development of para-sports events and to enable military personnel with physical disabilities to take part in better and more dignified sporting competitions. The CISM delegation in Switzerland is working to achieve this goal by signing an inclusion partnership agreement with PluSport in December with a view to the 2025 Military World Winter Games.

As a Swiss umbrella organization, PluSport promotes people with disabilities in a range of activities from recreational to competitive sports. PluSport is the ideal partner for an inclusive Military World Winter Games. Their expertise and support will help to successfully implement the project in terms of integration and inclusion.

The Swiss Armed Forces support associations and their athletes through various funding channels. And since 2021, para-athletes have also been able to benefit from this valuable offer. The promotion of Swiss competitive sports by the Armed Forces is a clear signal and commitment to inclusion and to disabled sports. During the Military World Winter Games, this commitment will be presented to the world and show other countries that the army is not only a valuable funding body for regular athletes, but also for para-athletes.

Important groundwork in terms of accessibility was laid in advance. In collaboration with PluSport and with the support of two wheelchair athletes, all competition-related locations were checked for accessibility. Based on their catalog of needs, the necessary conversions were commissioned and are to be implemented by the end of 2024.

The vision of the other is to be promoted and ensured through joint activities, expert exchange and mutual support, so that the competitions for the delegations with disabilities run smoothly and barrier-free and serve as a pioneering example for all future CISM competitions.