Martino Corazza

Martino is reshaping global sport and society through the Mixed Ability Sports model, a transformative, community-driven approach that integrates disabled and non-disabled individuals as equals in grassroots clubs—challenging exclusionary systems, shifting cultural perceptions of disability, and fostering long-term inclusivity, equity, and social change.

Martino envisions a society where sports become a powerful platform for true inclusivity, using the Mixed Ability Sports model as a transformative approach to not only change the landscape of sport but also to shift societal mindsets. This model challenges the traditional, exclusionary view of disability that often centers on medicalized approaches, instead fostering environments where disabled and non-disabled individuals can participate equally. It moves beyond separate or adapted sports, creating spaces in grassroots clubs that prioritize inclusivity, diversity, and shared experiences. The Mixed Ability method is more than just a sport model—it is a holistic approach that encourages a broader cultural shift, where equity, mutual respect, and collaboration are at the forefront, breaking down societal barriers and rethinking what it means to be able-bodied or disabled.

At the heart of the Mixed Ability Sports model is its integration into local communities, where clubs serve as hubs of inclusivity and connection. The model blends sport with education, advocacy, and community development, involving local clubs, social services, and healthcare systems to provide a comprehensive, community-based approach. By ensuring that both disabled and non-disabled individuals are active participants, it fosters local ownership and engagement. The model also encourages the training of community leaders and service providers—both within and outside the sporting world—creating a network of support that extends far beyond the sports field. The engagement of stakeholders, sponsors, and local organizations ensures the model's sustainability, providing the resources and partnerships needed to maintain and grow its impact.

Martino’s work has seen impressive expansion, with the Mixed Ability Sports model now operating in over 30 countries and reaching hundreds of thousands of participants. Its success is evident in the institutional changes it has prompted, such as the Irish Rugby Football Union adopting the model and introducing new legislation for Mixed Ability teams after years of resistance because of the long-held belief that mixed sports could not coexist with competitive sports, but only exist as a diluted adaptation; with this shift, however, they now stand side by side, sharing the same essence and legitimacy. The model’s growth has been further fueled by partnerships with sports federations, corporations, and policymakers, who recognize the value of fostering inclusive and diverse communities. By training educators and community leaders—both with and without disabilities—the model ensures that change is driven by those with lived experience, creating sustainable impact and paving the way for further replication across the globe. Martino’s venture is not just reshaping sports; it is creating a more inclusive, equitable society by normalizing diversity and dismantling barriers both in sports and in life.

The systemic exclusion of disabled and neurodivergent individuals from mainstream sports stems primarily from the medical model of disability, which focuses on individual impairments rather than recognizing societal barriers. This model promotes the idea that disabled people need special accommodations and individualized care, which leads to the creation of separate, adapted sports systems like the Paralympics. While these systems do provide opportunities for a select group of athletes, they also reinforce segregation by suggesting that disabled people can only participate in sports through separate, niche environments. This approach creates a misconception that they are not part of the broader sports community, thus sidelining them from equal participation in mainstream sports. Rather than integrating disabled individuals into the fabric of community sports, the medical model perpetuates exclusion and fosters a view that their place is outside the mainstream, further reinforcing their marginalization.

The exclusion of disabled individuals from mainstream sports results in profound economic and social costs, particularly due to the costs of inactivity. According to Sport England’s Active Lives Survey (2021-22), disabled individuals are twice as likely to be physically inactive, with 41% inactive compared to 21% of non-disabled individuals. This inactivity is not just a matter of personal well-being but leads to broader public health concerns, as it significantly increases the risk of various health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that people with disabilities may die up to 20 years earlier than non-disabled individuals, in part due to the lack of physical activity. Additionally, the absence of inclusive sports opportunities means that individuals miss out on the mental and social health benefits of exercise. This results in higher healthcare costs, lost productivity, and a general reduction in life satisfaction for disabled individuals. The failure to provide inclusive, integrated sports environments thus comes at a great societal cost.

This exclusion is further driven by deeply ingrained societal attitudes and narratives about disability, which perpetuate stigma and prejudice. These attitudes are reflected in the way disability sports are often structured, where opportunities for participation are framed within an elitist and adapted model that emphasizes special care and accommodation, rather than challenging the norms of mainstream sports. While adapted sports events may provide some opportunities, these systems continue to view disabled people as needing separate and specialized rules and fail to offer equitable participation opportunities alongside non-disabled athletes. As a result, these practices reinforce the divide between disabled and non-disabled individuals, deepening the stigma that disabled athletes are “different” and should be treated as such. This lack of inclusivity not only limits the sporting experiences available to disabled individuals but also perpetuates harmful negative stereotypes, preventing disabled individuals from fully integrating into the sports community and society at large.

Finally, the issue is compounded by inadequate policies and support systems that fail to effectively address the barriers disabled individuals face when trying to access sports. A 2018 Eurobarometer survey found that 14% of respondents cited disability or illness as one of the most common reasons for not participating in sports regularly. This lack of accessibility and representation in mainstream sports leads to a cycle of exclusion, where disabled individuals are denied the opportunity to benefit from the physical, social, and mental advantages that participation in sports offers. As a result, the broader social fabric weakens, as disabled individuals are further marginalized, leading to a decrease in social cohesion. Without addressing these structural barriers and creating more inclusive and supportive environments, the cycle of exclusion will continue, hindering the health, well-being, and social integration of disabled individuals, and limiting their opportunities to thrive in society.

The Mixed Ability Sports model begins with the integration of grassroots sports clubs as key drivers for both policy and advocacy initiatives. By engaging local clubs, the model promotes inclusivity within the sports community, where the core focus is on creating equal participation opportunities for both disabled and non-disabled individuals. Clubs are initially introduced to the model through a formal presentation and experiential activities. These activities allow participants to form Mixed Ability teams, experimenting with inclusive practices in real-time. This approach is not limited to integrating athletes with and without disabilities, but rather promotes a broader rethinking of participation, valuing diversity of experience, age, background, and ability. In practice, clubs receive dedicated training on the Mixed Ability methodology and commit to including a weekly session in their agenda, where anyone can choose to participate, ensuring that inclusivity becomes a regular and intentional part of the club’s activities. This process not only fosters ownership of the model within clubs but also encourages a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility. With this foundational understanding, clubs are able to certify their adoption of the Mixed Ability methodology, ensuring their sustained commitment to inclusivity. This approach is highly replicable across different sports and locations, laying the groundwork for long-term systemic change.

A key aspect of the model’s strategy is the narrative consistency that runs through its principles—creating clear and coherent messages about inclusivity, equity, and participation. The model's philosophy is embedded within the social franchising framework, allowing it to expand rapidly while ensuring local adaptation. This system enables clubs and federations to adopt the model in a way that aligns with their unique circumstances while maintaining the integrity of the core values. By promoting a social franchising approach, the model ensures that the essence of the Mixed Ability philosophy is preserved globally, allowing for scalability and sustainable impact across various countries and sports contexts.

The success of the Mixed Ability Sports model relies heavily on the training of educators and professionals. This program equips 70-80 medical professionals with the tools to understand and implement the Mixed Ability methodology, such as inclusive communication strategies, person-centered assessment methods, and guidelines for recommending physical activity as a form of social participation rather than solely rehabilitation. These tools help shift attitudes within the medical environment by encouraging professionals to see individuals as active participants in community life, not just as patients. These trained educators become agents of change, capable of influencing both local sports policies and healthcare strategies, facilitating a broader cultural transformation.

The Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup represents one of the most visible milestones in the model's journey. This event, though challenging to organize, now takes place every three years and serves as a global showcase for the Mixed Ability approach. By organizing this world-class event, the model not only demonstrates its success but also provides an opportunity for teams around the world to come together and compete in a truly inclusive format. This tournament is normalizing the idea of inclusive sports and has become an advocacy tool in promoting the principles of equity and participation on a global stage. In its latest edition, the tournament brought together over 1,100 players from 14 countries, featuring 82 matches in a full-contact format with minor adaptations to ensure safety and inclusivity. For many participants, the event is life-changing—building confidence, community, and a deep sense of belonging through shared experience and mutual respect.

Corporate support also plays an important role in the model’s scalability and sustainability. Fundraising initiatives, such as the “Day for Companies”, bring together businesses, social partners, and other stakeholders to raise the necessary resources while promoting social responsibility and diversity. These corporate partnerships provide crucial funding for international events, such as the Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup, and enable the model to reach new markets, creating opportunities for sponsorships and collaborations that further extend the model’s impact. Such opportunities include company-led inclusive sports days, co-branded awareness campaigns, staff volunteering programs, and long-term partnerships that integrate Mixed Ability values into corporate diversity and inclusion strategies.

Lastly, advocacy is integral to the success of the Mixed Ability Sports model, particularly in influencing policy changes at the national and international levels. The model has successfully gained recognition from sports federations, such as the Irish Rugby Football Union, which has adopted the Mixed Ability methodology and passed legislation to support Mixed Ability teams. Through ongoing engagement with policymakers and the broader sports community, the model continues to drive systemic change, ensuring that inclusivity in sports becomes a core focus for global sports organizations and governments alike. These engagements include partnerships with organizations like Activity Alliance, which collaborates with IMAS to promote active lives for disabled people and supports the integration of Mixed Ability principles into various sports disciplines. Additionally, IMAS has been involved in initiatives such as the Sport England-funded Mixed Ability Sports Development Programme, which has trained over 500 healthcare professionals and engaged more than 1,200 participants across multiple sports. Through these efforts, the Mixed Ability Sports model is not only advocating for policy changes but also actively contributing to the development of inclusive sports practices worldwide.

The Mixed Ability model has already had an impact globally, with 143 clubs across 30 countries actively promoting 275,000 participants on a weekly basis, including a diverse mix of athletes with and without disabilities, educators, medical professionals, volunteers, and community members who engage regularly in inclusive sport and learning activities. The model’s success in training over 2,000 educators worldwide and involving local communities ensures its scalability and deepens the impact at the grassroots level. By expanding into a variety of sports such as rugby, boxing, and beyond, the model proves its adaptability and widespread potential to break down barriers and promote inclusivity on a global scale.

Martino was born in Verona and raised in Val Chiusella, a remote mountain valley near Turin, where his parents joined a commune. This unconventional upbringing, immersed in activism and collective living, instilled in him the belief that social change is rooted in collective action and mutual support. From a young age, Martino was exposed to ideas that transcended individualism, shaping his vision of a world where the structures of society could be reshaped to promote social justice and equality. His commitment to these values became the driving force behind his entrepreneurial approach to inclusion and systemic change.

At 16, as his community experience came to an end, Martino discovered rugby—a sport that offered the inclusivity and sense of belonging he had been seeking. After university, he worked as a special education teacher. During his time as an educator, he initiated several innovative school projects, using education as a tool to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusion. His experience in both formal and informal education, combined with his passion for lifelong learning, led him to realize the potential of sports as a tool for broader societal change. He spearheaded initiatives aimed at breaking down stereotypes and promoting inclusion, laying the groundwork for a new, scalable approach that would later evolve into his work with sports inclusion.

Martino’s entrepreneurial drive came into full force when he recognized the gap in truly inclusive sports, particularly for disabled individuals. His work in education and social cooperatives led him to found Chivasso Rugby, which pioneered the integration of people with varying abilities into the sport. However, his defining moment came when he identified the limits of existing models, which remained entrenched in charity and ableism. Inspired by global insights from the European Grundtvig program, he co-founded International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS), a global initiative that integrates disabled and non-disabled individuals in sports, breaking down barriers and fostering true inclusivity. Martino’s model, now active in over 30 countries, has not only changed the landscape of sport but also influenced policy, proving that inclusion in sports can serve as a powerful tool for social transformation and equity.