On March 24, the second Sport For All webinar was organised, focusing on media representation of persons with disabilities in sport. Organized by the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) in cooperation with the European Commission, the event brought together athletes, journalists, and sports governing bodies to reflect on the impact of media narratives in the sporting world and shifting the narrative in disability sport. European University Sports Association (EUSA) attended the event as well.

The webinar aimed to analyze how media stories about athletes with disabilities are produced and maintained, moving away from simplified "inspirational" or "exceptional" phrasing. Participants explored ways to recognize these individuals as skilled and ambitious competitors performing at the highest level rather than just highlighting their disabilities.

Key objectives of the session included how practical pathways toward more ethical and athlete-centered media practices can be identified, how concrete recommendations for media professionals and sports organizations to ensure inclusive coverage can be developed and how to highlight the lived experiences of journalists and athletes with disabilities regarding visibility.

EUSA’s participation in the event underscores its long-standing dedication to reinforcing human rights and social inclusion through sport. As an active member of the Consultative Committee of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) at the Council of Europe, EUSA also plays a key role in shaping European sports policy and advocating for the rights of all athletes, also emphasised through strategic partnership with the European Paralympic Committee (EPC). This collaboration ensures that inclusive practices are prioritized across the university sports landscape - especially at the European Universities Games.

The insights gathered from this webinar will contribute to the ongoing development of practical recommendations to be published on the Sport For All website, furthering the mission of creating an equitable and respectful sports media landscape. "Sport For All: Promoting Inclusion and Combating Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities" is a project co-funded by the European Union and co-funded and implemented by the Council of Europe. For more information, please see https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/sport-for-all/.