[Answered] Sports are a creative tool that can be used to reach across divisions to promote inclusion and equality, but to make it possible, Challenging the stigma and stereotypes that surround women and persons with disabilities in sport is crucial. Elaborate.

India had sent its biggest-ever contingent to Tokyo Olympics with 126 athletes out of which there were 54 female athletes and in Paralympics 14 out of 54. Since marginalised communities, women and persons with disabilities are often ignored in sporting policies and activities, increasing their visibility in all aspects of sport should be considered as an important tool to enhance their participation in sport.

Challenges:

• The sports landscape is far more unfavourable for women and girls with disabilities, with opportunities minimised due to discriminations based on gender and disability. Other issue is the dip in their pay scale as women athletes are paid either less or half what is paid to the male counterparts.
• Budget allocations for physical education and sport remain low.
• Social and cultural barriers restrict the participation of women and girls in sport.
• Covid-19 induced barriers threatened the wider benefits that sports can generate for individuals and communities. It intensified physical inactivity and the deterioration of mental health
• women and persons with disabilities are often ignored in sporting policies and activities
• Lack of Systemic Interventions and Resources.

Benefits:

• Sports are a creative tool that can be used to reach across divisions to promote inclusion and equality.
• Sports bring fame and acceptability to successful people in society, much required by a few marginalized groups with disabilities.
• Inclusiveness in sports has the potential to transform not just the lives of those playing but also of the wider community.
• In its contribution towards achieving educational, health and equality outcomes, sport plays a vital role in promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Sports are at the heart of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Societies will need to prioritise solutions that benefit all people to ‘build back better’. In doing so, and alongside complementary ongoing initiatives such as the Fit India campaign and Khelo India, it is hoped that there will be greater collaboration for healthier, more inclusive and equitable communities. It is important to provide more opportunities and an enabling environment for greater participation of women and persons with disabilities in sport.