Para and disability sport is frequently recognised as a catalyst for inclusive practice within the events sector. Many of the accessibility standards now expected across sport — step-free movement, inclusive seating, audio description, and accessible communications — were first developed or refined through the delivery of para and disability events. Yet inclusion is not simply a technical exercise. Providing access does not always guarantee belonging, representation, or equitable experience.

This debate asks a practical question: how can para and disability events move beyond accessibility towards genuine inclusion? The discussion will consider inclusion across the full event lifecycle — planning, workforce recruitment, volunteer training, programming, and spectator engagement — and explore whose voices shape decisions and whose experiences define success. Attention will also be given to the operational realities faced by organisers, including funding pressures, staff capacity, regulatory requirements, and the challenge of embedding inclusive thinking into everyday delivery rather than treating it as a specialist add-on.

Speakers will examine where progress has been made and where barriers persist, drawing on experiences from sport organisations, event managers, and community stakeholders. The aim is not to produce idealised principles but to identify workable approaches that can be implemented across different event contexts.

Designed for practitioners, policymakers, and sector partners, the session offers a constructive space to share lessons, challenge assumptions, and clarify what “inclusive practice” means in operational terms. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how events can support dignity, participation, and belonging for athletes, staff, volunteers, and audiences alike — and how those lessons can influence the wider events industry.