A new chapter of regional para-sports competition is set to open later this month, as Belize readies its largest ever delegation to compete at the 2026 CODICADER Disability Games in Guatemala. The regional tournament, which brings together emerging disabled athletes from across the Central American region, will run from October 25 to 31, and Belize’s national sporting body has formally marked the team’s departure with an official send-off ceremony held Saturday.
This outing will mark Belize’s third consecutive participation in the CODICADER Games, a milestone that reflects the country’s growing commitment to expanding access to competitive sports for athletes of all abilities. Unlike many elite international competitions, the tournament centers young disabled athletes, creating a unique platform for them to showcase their skill, build connections with peers across the region, and challenge long-standing stereotypes about disability in sports.
In total, Belize’s traveling delegation comprises 63 members: 34 competing athletes and 29 supporting staff, including certified coaches, chaperones, classification officials, and senior delegation leaders. The athletes are set to compete across three core sports: track and field athletics, boccia, and goalball — all adaptive sports structured to accommodate a wide range of disability types.
The team draws competitors from 10 different schools spread across four of Belize’s districts: Belize, Cayo, Toledo, and Orange Walk. This geographic spread highlights the reach of the country’s grassroots para-sports programs, which have expanded in recent years to identify talent beyond major urban centers. All athletes meet the strict eligibility criteria set out by the Games, and represent a diverse range of disability experiences: the group includes athletes living with intellectual disabilities such as Down syndrome, physical disabilities including cerebral palsy, visual and hearing impairments, and specific learning disabilities.