IBSA AND IPC ANNOUNCE EIGHT-TEAM BLIND FUTSAL TOURNAMENT AT LONDON 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES
The IBSA Futsal Subcommittee and the International Paralympic Committee have agreed to increase the number of teams taking part in the blind futsal – or 5-a-side football – event at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.
Eight teams – a total of 64 totally blind (B1) players and 16 goalkeepers – will compete at London 2012, up from six at the 2004 and 2008 games. This decision highlights the exponential growth blind futsal has enjoyed since becoming an official IBSA sport and joining the Paralympic programme.
Futsal Chairman Carlos Campos was delighted with the news and said, “the decision by IPC to increase the number of slots for B1 blind futsal is a clear sign of the growth and development in IBSA futsal since it became a Paralympic sport.”
He added, “Everyone working on the subcommittee is very happy because we have been able to show IPC how much the sport has grown. It demonstrates success in how we are administering the sport and, at the same time, is a challenge for our work in the future.
“Now we need to improve the situation in the B2/B3 category (for partially sighted players). Although not a Paralympic sport, it is an IBSA sport, and the subcommittee has a duty to increase the number of competitions and spread the game much more widely in America and Asia.”
Blind futsal made its Paralympic debut at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. Six teams competed for the gold medal – Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Greece, France and South Korea. Brazil took the gold medal, Argentina won silver and Spain took bronze.
At the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games China, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Great Britain and South Korea qualified. Brazil retained the title and won the gold medal, China took silver and Argentina won bronze.
Click here to view the futsal qualification criteria for London 2012.
14/1/2010
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