Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Disability and sports - statistics & facts
Sports play an important role in the lives of many people with disabilities, yet a number of barriers exist that have an impact on both active and passive participation. In 2023, inactivity levels in England were nearly twice as high among disabled people than non-disabled people, with over 40 percent of adults with disabilities doing less than 30 minutes of exercise a week. Meanwhile, people with disabilities also face challenges as spectators, with inaccessibility and the attitude of others ranking among the most common barriers for disabled sports fans. Nevertheless, taking part in sports can be an overwhelmingly positive experience, with the associated physical and mental benefits found to be the most common motivators for disabled people doing exercise.
