The III Charity Padel Tournament of La Oliva, organized by the La Oliva City Council, served as the venue for a panel reflecting on how digital innovation is changing sports practice for people with disabilities. The event, held at the Teatro Raíz del Pueblo, brought together prominent figures from the sports and technology sectors.
The session was moderated by David Blay Tapia, director of the podcast for the Spanish Paralympic Committee. Speakers included Manuel Climent, head of Orange for the Valencian Community, Murcia, and the Balearic Islands; Marcos Cambronero, athlete and professional wheelchair padel coach; and Laura Roca, European swimming champion and Olympic participant.
The event's opening featured the Minister of New Technologies, Carmen Alonso, and the Councilor for Sports, Gleiber Carreño. The initial debate focused on how technology has improved sports accessibility in recent years, from adapted equipment to digital tools for training and competition.
Participants analyzed the integration of these solutions into mainstream sports to foster participation on equal terms. The potential of artificial intelligence for enhancing sustainability and the urgent challenges remaining to achieve fully accessible sports were also discussed.
The panel also explored cases of mixed competitions and debated 'cutting-edge technologies,' such as full-body swimsuits in swimming or unregulated chairs in tennis, posing the challenge of balancing innovation, equal conditions, and competitive fairness.
