FADAM appoints Ryadh SALLEM as Ambassador for the FADAM World Games Paris 2027: a strong commitment to inclusion and sport for all
- FADAM Communication
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Paris, June 4, 2026 — The International Committee of the FADAM Games (CIJFADAM) is proud to announce the appointment of Ryadh Sallem as Ambassador for the FADAM World Games Paris 2027. A leading figure in French para-sports, and a three-time champion in three different disciplines—swimming, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby—he is recognized as one of the most inspiring figures in the French Paralympic movement. His exceptional career, civic engagement, and unwavering commitment to equal opportunities make him a key ambassador for the values upheld by FADAM.
Making the FADAM Paris 2027 World Games an event open to all
Through this appointment, CIJFADAM reaffirms its commitment to making the FADAM World Games Paris 2027 an inclusive, accessible and socially impactful event.
Since its inception, FADAM has championed a vision of sport as a catalyst for social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, and individual empowerment. The arrival of Ryadh Sallem reinforces this ambition by placing inclusion and diversity at the heart of the project. He is the first high-level Paralympic athlete to join the list of ambassadors for the FADAM Paris 2027 World Games. His diverse background with the French national teams in three disciplines—swimming, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby—demonstrates his passion for sportsmanship and his achievements. In each discipline, he has distinguished himself: a world record in the medley relay, three European championship titles in wheelchair basketball, and a European championship title in wheelchair rugby in 2022. Ryadh Sallem had the honor of participating in a sixth Paralympic competition after Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004 as part of the French wheelchair basketball team, London in 2012, Rio in 2016 and thus punctuating his sporting career at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Much more than a top-level Paralympic athlete, he is an activist and a unique figurehead through his numerous commitments to sport, the defense of the rights of people with disabilities, and social inclusion. Through his activism, he will help raise awareness among the general public, institutions, and sports stakeholders about the issues related to accessibility, the representation of people with disabilities, and the promotion of sport open to all.
“The appointment of Ryadh SALLEM is fully in line with our vision for the FADAM Paris 2027 World Games. His exceptional career and his commitment to inclusion make him a leading ambassador. Through him, we wish to reiterate that sport is a powerful tool for integration, respect, and fraternity,” declares Maître Dominique SAATENANG , Founding President of CIJFADAM.
“I am honored to join the FADAM Paris 2027 World Games. I have always believed that sport should be a space for encounters, personal growth and self-improvement accessible to all. I fully share the values of inclusion, solidarity and respect championed by the movement and I am happy to contribute to this wonderful human and sporting adventure,” emphasizes Ryadh SALLEM, Ambassador of the FADAM Paris 2027 World Games.
Under the leadership of its new ambassador, the committee intends to strengthen four priorities:
The inclusion of people with disabilities in sports activities.
Equal opportunities and the fight against all forms of discrimination.
Access to sport as a factor in education, empowerment and citizenship.
Promoting the universal values of respect, solidarity, and living together
The FADAM Paris 2027 World Games thus intend to leave a lasting legacy by mobilizing sports, educational, institutional and associative actors around a common vision: that of a sport capable of bringing people together beyond differences.
About CIJFADAM: The International Committee of the FADAM Games is an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace, living together, and fraternity through martial arts and combat sports. In partnership with UNESCO and CONFEJES ( Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Francophonie), FADAM will launch the flagship edition of the FADAM World Games in Paris in 2027. This event, which has become the international benchmark for martial arts and combat sports, stands as a true platform for sporting, cultural, social, and educational diplomacy, fostering closer ties between peoples.
Opportunities for interviews with Ryadh SALLEM and Maître Dominique SAATENANG
- upon request -
Press contacts:
CIJFADAM – Communications Department
Tlana ELIEZER – Press and media relations
📞 +33 (0)1 53 86 09 02 - 📱+33 (0)6 51 44 03 01
