Sport for older adults and people with disabilities

Terms used

• Padrón — The padrón is the town hall record showing you live in the municipality.
• Centro de mayores — The centro de mayores is a council-run senior centre offering activities for older adults.
• IMSERSO — IMSERSO is the national body for older people's social services, which also runs holiday and spa programmes.
• ONCE — ONCE is the national organisation supporting blind and partially sighted people in Spain.

Key rules

• Council programmes: Many councils run low-cost, subsidised programmes for older adults, with age limits that vary by council.
• Enrolment: Sign up at the sports centre, centro de mayores or social services office, usually with ID and a padrón certificate.
• Adapted sport: Join through a regional or national federation, or a local club, to get a licence.
• Regional differences: Ages, prices and federation branches differ by council and autonomous community.

Start with your town hall if you are an older adult

Many councils run sport and activity programmes for older adults, and they are usually cheap. Age limits vary by council. Most start at 60 or 65. Some open to retirees and pensioners of any age.

Typical activities include:

• gentle gymnastics, pilates, yoga and tai chi
• water aerobics and swimming
• walking groups and dance
• memory workshops, computer courses and trips

Prices are low because councils subsidise them. You often pay a fee per quarter or season. Some programmes are free or discounted for pensioners and people on low incomes.

Where to sign up

Enrol at one of these places:

• the municipal sports centre
• the centro de mayores
• the social services office

Take your ID and a padrón certificate. Some cities also let you enrol online. Large cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia have well-known networks. Smaller towns often have fewer options, so ask at the town hall.

IMSERSO, a national body, also runs holiday and spa programmes for older adults.

Adapted sport for people with disabilities

Spain has national federations for adapted sport. The Spanish Paralympic Committee coordinates Paralympic sport. The main federations cover:

• physical disability
• cerebral palsy and acquired brain damage
• intellectual disability
• deaf people
• blind and partially sighted people, linked to ONCE

Special Olympics España also serves people with intellectual disability. Many of these federations have regional branches in each autonomous community.

To join, contact the regional or national federation, or a local club. You can then get a licence. Federation names and mergers have changed over time, so ask the Spanish Paralympic Committee for the current list.

Inclusive programmes outside the federations

Many councils run inclusive programmes. ONCE and Fundación Deporte Joven do too. The government's sports council supports these schemes. Ask your town hall's sports department what is on offer locally.

The documents list and the questions below cover what to bring and how to join.

Documents you need

• Padrón certificate, the town hall record showing you live in the municipality. Many council programmes ask for it when you enrol.

• Your ID. Council programmes often ask for it at enrolment.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I sign up for a council programme for older adults?

You usually sign up at the municipal sports centre, the senior centre (centro de mayores) or the social services office. Some cities also let you enrol online. Ask which of these handles enrolment in your town.

Are council programmes for older adults free?

Most are not free, but prices are usually low and subsidised, often a fee per quarter or season. Some programmes are free or discounted for pensioners and people on low incomes. Ask your council about discounts when you enrol.

How do I join an adapted sport federation in Spain?

You contact the regional or national federation for your disability, or a local club, to join and get a licence. Many federations also exist in each autonomous community. The Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE) coordinates Paralympic sport and can point you to the right one.

Are there inclusive sport programmes outside the federations?

Yes, many councils, ONCE and Fundación Deporte Joven run inclusive programmes that you can join without going through a federation. The government's sports council (Consejo Superior de Deportes) supports these programmes.