Milagros Tolón: "The integration of people with disabilities places equality at the heart of our sports system"

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Milagros Tolón, with members of the Spanish delegation at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games (Italy)

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sport, Milagros Tolón, accompanied the Spanish delegation to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games on 11 and 12 March,where she praised the work of the Spanish Paralympic Committee and the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation.

Accompanied by the Spanish Ambassador to Italy, Miguel Fernández-Palacios, the Minister visited the Spanish athletes in the Athletes' Village who are competing in these Paralympic Games between 6 and 15 March, as well as the coaches, medical staff, and office personnel who make up the national delegation.

Led by the president of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, Alberto Durán, and its director general, Francisco Botía, the Paralympic family is delivering an outstanding performance in Milan-Cortina, where they have already won three medals.

Skier Audrey Pascual has won two golds, in the alpine combined and super-G, and a silver in the downhill.

Minister Milagros Tolón personally congratulated the Madrid-born athlete, who at 21 years old and in her Paralympic Games debut is writing one of the most remarkable chapters in the history of Spanish sport, with the slalom event still to be completed this Saturday.

"Her talent, her courage, and her ability to overcome adversity perfectly represent the values that make Paralympic sport great," said the minister, who today watched Alejandra Requesens and her guide Victoria Ibáñez, as well as María Martín-Granizo, Iraide Rodríguez, and Audrey Pascual herself, compete in the giant slalom.

"All of them, along with Higinio Rivero, Javier Marcos, and Emilio Redondo, are an inspiration to our entire country," added Milagros Tolón, referring to the three athletes who complete the national delegation at these Paralympic Games.

The Government of Spain promotes the integration of athletes with disabilities

The eight members of the team compete under the structure of the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation (RFEDI), one of the 23 Spanish sports federations that have already completed the process of integrating Paralympic athletes into their structures, in accordance with the current Sports Law.

"Spain is taking decisive steps toward a more inclusive, fair, and consistent sports model, aligned with the values we uphold as a society. The integration of athletes with disabilities into single-sport federations represents a true cultural transformation. This social achievement places equal opportunities at the heart of our sports system," the minister emphasised.

Since the approval of this regulation in December 2022, the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD) has allocated €12 million in aid to Spanish sports federations to support this process.

Integration is allowing athletes with disabilities to develop their sporting careers within the same federation structures as other athletes in their discipline, which helps to strengthen the visibility and reach of Paralympic sport.

"With this decision, we are sending a very clear message: sporting talent knows no barriers. Our responsibility as public servants is to eliminate obstacles and ensure that everyone has the same opportunities to practice sport and achieve their goals. For this reason, the Government of Spain will continue to support the federations on this path, listening to athletes and working with the entire sports system to successfully complete this process. Because when sport is more inclusive, sport is also more representative of who we are," Milagros Tolón pointed out.

Equalisation of medal prizes

The other major measure in this latest cycle has been the equalisation of medal prizes for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, which the Higher Council for Sports co-finances with the respective National Olympic Committees.

These prizes, cumulatively, are valued at €94,000 for a gold medal, €48,000 for a silver medal, and €30,000 for a bronze medal.

For the minister, this decision represents a decisive step towards full equality in the recognition of effort and sporting merit.

"Equalising medal prizes for Olympians and Paralympians is an act of justice and consistency with the values we uphold as a country. Recognising sporting success in the same way also means recognising the same excellence, the same sacrifice, and the same capacity to inspire all of society," stated Milagros Tolón.

In this regard, the Minister for Sport explained that the Government of Spain's objective is to continue moving towards an increasingly inclusive and equitable sports system. "Paralympic sport has amply demonstrated its social impact and its capacity to transform perspectives. Equalising the prize money is also a way of conveying to all citizens that talent, effort, and victory have exactly the same value," she emphasised.

Non official translation