Para Football has been co-founded by Sam Turner, International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) secretary general.

The foundation stems from a working group established in 2015, which has sought to bring together International Federations for football for persons with disabilities into a network.

It is hoped the foundation will allow the organisations to work together, share resources and develop football for people with impairments.

"Para Football aims to ensure every person with disabilities has a way to play football and feels that football is positive place where they feel respected, valued, they belong and that they matter," Turner said.

"As a team sport, all federations should work together and collaborate to provide the best possible opportunities for players of all abilities and disabilities.

"For many football is just a game.

"But it’s the determination, the stories and the abilities of its players which makes all the types of Para Football the beautiful game."

Para Football has partnered with the U Matter to highlight the importance of football for persons with disabilities, and how it changes peoples’ lives for the better.

U Matter aims to strengthen and transform lives through everyday acts of mattering.

The organisation says the feeling that you matter to someone and that your actions are noticed and appreciated by others is central to our sense of self-worth and identity, and will work with Para Football to strengthen its cause.

The foundation says the project comes at a crucial time amid the coronavirus pandemic, with isolation, disconnect, disrupted routines and diminished services having greatly impacted the lives and mental well-being of persons with disabilities around the world.

The UN says disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security.

The organisation says COVID-19 is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion and highlighting that work on disability inclusion is imperative.

Para Football is among the developments launched to mark UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has welcomed confirmation that hockey for people with intellectual disabilities, which is known as ParaHockey ID or Hockey ID, has been included as a demonstration sport at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.

Hockey ID will debut at the Games with between 12 to 15 teams participating.

Rowing was also included on the programme, with both sports selected out of 10 potential contenders as demonstration events.

"All applications were convincing, but field hockey and rowing were slightly ahead in the end," said Thomas Gindra, vice-president sports at Special Olympics.

"These are established sports that have a lot of potential to advance the inclusive sports landscape in Germany together with Special Olympics.

"With field hockey and rowing, we want to send a strong signal that more and more sports and clubs are joining the Special Olympics movement and thus improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities."

 It is expected that 7,000 athletes from 170 countries compete in across 24 sports during the Games.