The city of Birmingham, UK hosted the 2023 IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) World Games, a multi-sport event for the blind and visually impaired.
The Games are the biggest international high-level event for visually impaired athletes, with more than 1,250 competitors from 70 countries, and took place from August 14-27, 2023 at the University of Birmingham.
Held every four years, the World Games are the pinnacle of the international calendar after the Paralympic Games. In 2023, they hosted three Paralympic and seven non-Paralympic sports: archery, chess, cricket, men’s and women’s blind football, goalball (men’s/women’s), judo, weightlifting, showdown, ten-pin bowling and tennis.
The first Games were held in Madrid, Spain in 1998. Since then, the host cities have been Quebec (2003), Sao Paulo (2007), Antalya (2011), Seoul (2015) and Fort Wayne, Indiana (2019) .
To exceed the limits
It is interesting to learn how certain sports have been adapted to minimize visual difficulties.
For example, archery uses tactile sights which are touched on the back of the hand to aim and which can receive information from an observer as to where the arrow has landed.
For cricket, a traditional game of the former British colonies, the ball is the same size as that used for sightseers, but is made of hard plastic and contains bells to make it audible.
In the case of football, the goalkeepers are the only players on the field who have full vision, as well as the coaching staff and the guide, who is behind the opposing goal. However, players must participate with an eye patch and goggles to even out the conditions so that no shadows are visible.
Goalball is a specific game for the visually impaired in which players try to score goals by throwing a ball around the pitch and defending themselves with their body against shots from the opposing team. The ball contains several bells that allow players to locate it. Also, the goalball field is marked off with raised lines so players can always know where they are. In order for the players to be able to hear everything that is happening and soak up the intensity of the atmosphere, the spectators must be absolutely silent during the match.
Judo is the only martial art in the Paralympic Games and in the case of the visually impaired the rules are slightly modified to protect blind athletes, and there is one exception: competitors start the competition with a hold, unlike the technique without hold of able-bodied competitors.
Showdown is a sport for the blind and visually impaired that could be described as the blind community’s answer to hockey or table tennis. The only equipment needed is a specially designed table, two paddles and a special ball in which bearings have been inserted to make it sound. Opaque goggles and a glove are used to protect the batsman’s hand.
Bowling for blind or visually impaired athletes is played with ten pins using either visual guidance or a guide lane. In the first case, a visual assistant aligns the blind player on the approach before the throw. In the second case, guide rails can help with approach and casting.
Finally, weightlifting is practiced without major differences compared to sighted athletes.
The “other” women’s football
While the official opening of the Games was scheduled for August 18, the women’s football competition began on Monday 14 with the participation of teams from eight countries: Argentina, Germany, Austria, Japan, India, Morocco, Sweden and England, host country.
In the first round, Morocco drew with Sweden, Argentina beat Germany by three goals to nil and India beat Austria by the narrowest of margins. Japan, favorites in this category, meanwhile beat the local team by five goals to nil.
At the same time, the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup were held at the other end of England, in Australia and New Zealand.
The big upshot of all of this is that this is an example of expanding opportunities for women and people with disabilities, which is a great reason to rejoice and keep playing the most important game, that of an inclusive world without discrimination.
Translated from Spanish by Evelyn Tischer
2023-08-26 08:25:13
#World #Championships #Blind #Visually #Impaired #Athletes
