FC Barcelona continues to champion the rights and well-being of disabled individuals, reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity. As the world observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd, FC Barcelona is actively endorsing the event through its Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion department. This department, integral to the club’s ethos, has been instrumental in fostering not only sporting but also personal and professional development for individuals with various disabilities.
In a recent initiative, the men’s and women’s basketball teams at FC Barcelona, alongside the UNES Barça wheelchair basketball team, engaged in a unique team-building session at the Palau Blaugrana. This special event allowed senior players from the men’s and women’s teams to experience the game from a wheelchair, gaining a profound appreciation for the adapted and inclusive variant of basketball.
Participants included players such as Karla Erjavec, Lola Pendande, Angie Bjorklund, Carol Guerrero, and Roselis Silva from Barça CBS; Álex Abrines, Oriol Paulí, Darío Brizuela, Joel Parra, and Jabari Parker from the men’s team; and Fernando Valderrama, Laia Antón, Rafael Benitez, Teodoro López, Alejandro Manuel Conde, and Maria Heras from UNES Barça.
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, UNES Barça showcased their sport during halftime at the league game between Barça and Covirán Granada.
FC Barcelona is taking concrete steps to ensure inclusivity for all its fans, including the deaf and hard of hearing. The iconic ‘Cant del Barça’ can now be read from the scoreboard at Estadi Johan Cruyff, Palau Blaugrana, and Spotify Camp Nou, making it accessible to everyone during matches.
The club’s dedication also reaches into the realm of filmmaking. The documentary “A Season of Challenges” from Fundació Barça Genuine, depicting the experiences of a football team consisting of young individuals with intellectual disabilities, has been enhanced with subtitles courtesy of the Catalan Association for the Promotion of Deaf People (ACAPPS). The documentary was screened at the presentation of the Fundació Barça 2023/24 team, attended by President Joan Laporta and Ambassador Ronald Araujo.
In addition, the Fundació Barça Genuine will organize a four-team tournament on December 3, bringing together the Genuine team and other teams with intellectual disabilities from Barça supporters clubs.
“The campaign “Inclusion is in our hands,” spearheaded by Allianz, FC Barcelona, and its Foundation, emphasizes the significance of integrating people with disabilities through sports, particularly football. Barça Women’s players have adopted the symbolic gesture of holding wrists to raise awareness about individual commitments to inclusion”.
FC Barcelona continues to walk the talk by inviting 22 boys and girls with disabilities to the La Liga match against Atlético Madrid. They will have the unique opportunity to walk onto the pitch with the players, sharing in the celebration of inclusivity.
This sustained commitment to inclusivity and equity reflects FC Barcelona’s belief in fostering a diverse and sustainable development model. As the world marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, FC Barcelona stands as a beacon of inspiration, using its influence to promote integration and advocate for the rights of all individuals, regardless of ability.
