PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: PLAY & TRAIN

We’re proud to be collaborating with Play and Train, an association that aims to provide people with disabilities and their families access to the practice, learning and training of recreational or competitive sports activities, regardless of their abilities, gender or age.

MISSION

“Play and Train’s mission is to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities through sport and leisure activities in safe and accessible environments.

Since its founding in 2008, the organisation has evolved from a focus on snow sports in La Molina, to developing inclusive programmes in coastal, mountain and urban settings. 

Over time, its work has expanded into areas such as education, employment, universal accessibility, and international cooperation. 

Today, Play and Train is a leading organisation in the field of adaptive sport in Spain and actively collaborates with institutions around the world to help build a more inclusive society.”

Levelling the Field

“The concept of levelling the playing field captures the core philosophy of Play and Train: ensuring that all individuals, with or without disabilities, have the same opportunities to enjoy sport on equal terms. For the organisation, it means removing physical, social, and attitudinal barriers so that access to sport becomes a right for everyone, not a privilege for a few.

The goal is for every athlete to feel like a full participant in the game, with the focus placed on their abilities rather than their limitations.

This inclusive vision reflects Play and Train’s mission to spark a shift in social attitudes toward disability through sport, and its firm belief that sport is a powerful tool for social inclusion and personal development.”

PLAY & TRAIN’S IMPACT

“Since our creation, we have made a significant impact in opening up more inclusive opportunities in sport. Our pioneering programmes have enabled hundreds of people with disabilities to access sports that were previously difficult for them to participate in — from skiing and snowboarding in the Pyrenees to surfing, swimming, cycling, or playing padel in Fuerteventura.

A clear example of this is our snow sports school in La Molina, where around 10,000 users and their companions have taken part, enjoying the snow on equal terms thanks to a specialised team and adapted equipment. The normalisation of the presence of skiers with disabilities at the resort has inspired other facilities to follow the same path.

Our inclusive approach has created spaces where athletes with and without disabilities come together, share experiences and learn from one another.

In our camps and events, family members and friends without disabilities actively take part alongside people with disabilities, fostering a natural environment of inclusion through sport. As a result of all this work, today we see a more diverse sporting community and an increasing participation of people with disabilities in activities that once seemed out of reach.”

SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES

“Play and Train’s work has played a key role in transforming how adaptive sport is perceived—both by the athletes themselves and by society as a whole.

Many participants have changed the way they view their own disability after achieving sporting milestones they once thought impossible, gaining self-confidence and self-esteem in the process. Activities such as surfing, skiing, cycling, paddle, swimming, among others, have allowed them to discover their potential and experience a powerful sense of achievement.

Play and Train’s goal: to shift the focus away from limitations and toward recognising the abilities, accomplishments, and value of people with disabilities in sport. On a broader social level, the organisation acts as a driver of narrative change.

Thanks to this ongoing work on multiple fronts, adaptive sport is increasingly associated with values like resilience, equality, and community, rather than with pity, charity, or exceptionality. Play and Train has helped shift the narrative so that the stories of athletes with disabilities are told through admiration and normality, moving toward a more inclusive and empowering perspective.”

COLLABORATIVE JOURNEY

“Every new project has taught us the value of collaboration and innovation. We have worked hand in hand with ski resorts, local councils, associations, organisations, foundations, and universities, with a shared goal: to level the playing field in diverse settings, from high mountain areas to the seaside.

Along the way, we’ve experienced truly meaningful moments. We’ve seen how a single sporting experience can transform a person’s life. 

A child skiing or surfing for the first time doesn't just have an adventure—they gain confidence and often inspire their family to break down barriers. Many parents, after watching their children thrive, are encouraged to try the sport themselves.

We’ve also come to understand that inclusion goes far beyond sport itself. That’s why we’ve developed educational initiatives and established a Special Employment Centre in Fuerteventura, where we create real job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Looking back, we are proud to have helped build a more inclusive community and to have supported a generation of adaptive athletes who continue to push boundaries.”

VISION FOR THE FUTURE

“Our philosophy is more alive than ever: 

we believe in the power of play, joy, and shared effort as drivers of transformation—of both lives and society. 

And with that belief as our compass, we look to the future, determined to keep innovating and working so that adaptive sport continues to be synonymous with inclusion, social change, and opportunity for all.”