Find your nearest disability sport club in Paris

What is the parasport clubs network (RCP)?

The parasport clubs network (RCP - Réseau des clubs paraccueillants) encourages the creation of para-sport sections by offering a training program and individualized support for projects.

Every four years, the organization of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is systematically accompanied by an increase in demand for sporting activities within clubs. The RCP is thus preparing the capital to welcome all individuals with disabilities who wish to engage in sports activities.

The aim is to develop parasport activities throughout Paris. Every disabled person should be able to take part in sports they enjoy!

Paris 2024, the Comité paralympique et sportif français (CPSF) and the Comités départementaux handisport et sport adapté de Paris are the City's partners in this project.

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Advantages of the parasport club network

People with disabilities can face a number of obstacles while accessing sports, including mobility issues, equipment, infrastructure accessibility and lack of training for instructors. To overcome these challenges and facilitate the opening of dedicated or shared slots, the RCP supports the clubs in its network. This support includes assistance with project development and implementation, promotion of sporting activities and raising clubs' awareness of the need to welcome people with disabilities.

• Understanding the parasport clubs network (2024-25)

Interview with Jérôme Rousseau, Novosports managing director

To shed some light on the subject, Jérôme Rousseau, Managing Director of the Novosports association, which promotes shared sporting practice, agreed to answer our questions.

Can you tell us about the aims and mission of a parasports club like Novosports?

Founded in 2020, Novosports' primary ambition was to invent new shared sporting activities, enabling everyone to practice sport on the same field. The club welcomes all types of people, regardless of age or disability. The idea is to be able to bring together able-bodied people as well as people with disabilities, for whom we will adapt the physical activity.

In general, the aim of these clubs is to promote sports activities for people with disabilities. The main challenge has been to create as many clubs as possible, whether multi-sport structures like Novosports, or more "traditional" clubs offering a specific activity reserved for people with disabilities. This is the case with blind soccer, for example, which is an activity aimed solely at the visually impaired. This does not prevent sighted people from taking part, as long as they occupy the position of goalkeeper, as stipulated in the rules.

There are also a number of clubs offering able-bodied people the chance to try out disability sports. We call this "awareness-raising", as it allows them to understand the challenges and, more importantly, the emotions involved.

What's the difference between shared practice, disability sport and adapted sport?

Shared practice aims to bring together all types of players on the same field. At Novosports, we prefer to speak of "shared practice" rather than "inclusive sport", which is, in my opinion, a term that tends to be used indiscriminately and loses its substance. For example, wheelchair basketball is certainly an inclusive sport, but it has its limitations in that it excludes blind people or those with amputated limbs. When we talk about "shared practice", everyone understands that it's a sport shared by all.

Have you noticed a growing interest in parasport lately?

At Novosports, we're seeing an increasing number of requests, particularly for shared practice, which enables parents of disabled children to play with them, a major innovation. The advantage is that, in addition to giving them the opportunity to share a sporting moment together, this scheme helps the child to practice on a regular basis.

Obviously, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are having a positive impact on these requests. It's a little hard to tell at the moment, because they've only just finished, but what's certain is that we're seeing a new craze, a different vision of disability. We're still a long way from the democratization of shared practice. However, people are realizing that it does exist.

What needs to be improved to help parasport clubs become more widespread?

The big challenge, particularly in the Paris region, is not only to create more gyms, but also to make them accessible. Having to travel for more than an hour just to reach your sports club can be quite disheartening. It's a balancing act.

Come and discover the clubs offering parasport activities

More than 40 sections have already opened one or more slots for people with disabilities:

More information

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