"ITALY THROWS ITSELF INTOSUPPORTING BLIND SPORTS"

The city of RICCIONE,venue for the IX European Championships for the Blind to be held between 7th and 13th September.
Following an absence of 12 years, Italy will once again be hosting the European Athletics and Swimming Championships for the blind and visually impaired - SEPTEMBER 7th to 13th, 1997. In 1985, the city of ROME concluded a memorable edition with the solemn audience in Castelgandolfo, where His Holiness John Paul II offered a most beautiful address to the participants, something which will surely have remained in the minds and hearts of those fortunate enough to hear him.

This year the prestigious Romagna coastline, famous for its traditional warm hospitality, will be welcoming the protagonists of this IX Edition of the Championships and will afford the attention and solidarity that such an important event warrants.

The Organising Committee in Riccione (Italy) is working flat out to enhance all aspects of this event, which expects to attract the quite considerable participation of over 300 athletes from 28 European nations, as well as from other continents, who all wish to compete against the cream of the international ranks. In fact, it is practically certain that the top European athletes will be participating in this edition of the championships, hoping to repeat their success at the wonderful Atlanta '96 Paralympic Games - such as ALDO MANGANARO, PURIFICACION SANTAMARTA and a great deal more - where innumerable national, world and Paralympic records were beaten.

There being no doubt as to the high technical level that will characterise this event - prelude to the World Championships for the Blind, to be held in Madrid in 1998 - we did not wish to, nor can we, ignore or neglect the organisational side of this event and are thus providing all the means at our disposal to furnish the true "protagonists" with the most comfortable setting possible, something which, in turn, can only help to encourage them to bring out their best.

A full programme of activities, fitting for an event of these characteristics, has been prepared, such as, for example, a visit to San Marino, the oldest independent republic in the world. Finally, with respect to the strictly sports organisational aspect, everything is ready and all that remains is to look forward to offering a most effusive welcome to all the athletes, technical personnel and coaches so that, all together, we may embark on this wonderful "adventure" that will be taking place in RICCIONE.

Filippo Dragotto

"Italy throws itself into supportingblind sports"

FILIPPO DRAGOTTO President of the Organising Committee European Athletics and Swimming Championships'97

"IBSA AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE"

The city of Prague was chosen as the venue for a seminar - March 21st-25th - on the development of IBSA in the Central and Eastern European countries. A total of 25 representatives from 8 countries - Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Russia and Poland - attended this meeting. IBSA was represented by FRANZ HASLINGER and BRIAN SCOBIE. The organisation was coordinated by ALOIS HAMROZI, president of the Blind Sports Association in the Czech Republic.

The first day of the seminar was dedicated, almost exclusively, to compiling impressions from all the countries represented there with respect to the situation of blind sports and other issues of general interest. Broadly speaking, the most relevant matters dealt with were the following:

- Concern about the sports and games for the youngsters.

- Budget limitations derived from the national economic situations which, in turn, prevent investments being made to enable them to participate, internationally, in blind sports competitions.

- The existence of several possibilities for international participation and invitations within the region, many of which are not currently sanctioned by IBSA, nor included on the Federation's calendar.

- Finally, there are some sports with considerable popular acceptance, although they are still not fully recognised by IBSA.

These initial soundings gave rise, throughout the seminar, to two highly specific questions which we shall now examine:

* IBSA should consider the possibility of recognising BOWLING as a sport within the Federation, probably without full membership of the Technical Committee proving necessary, given that, at least at present, it does not appear that it could be practised as a competition sport in a significant fashion outside Central Europe.

* In addition, it proved possible to identify, not just a sport (Athletics), but also a possible host nation (Czech Republic) for an IBSA Youth Championship in 1998. The Czech Republic has been considering this possibility for some time now and has only held back due to sponsorship problems, which limit any possibility of practising sports in this region. BRNO has been considered as a possible venue.

Apart from these two matters, the countries were encouraged to inform the IBSA Secretariat of all activities that are open to the direct participation, or through invitations, of the athletes from these countries, so that this information may be included on the Official IBSA Calendar. The recognition or official ratification of the sporting events - and especially the agreement on the sports that must be declared apt in order for them to be considered IBSA Championships or Games - makes it easier for the national teams to obtain the financing they require to participate.

Quality Versus Sport

Another of the matters raised at the seminar - on the second day - took the form of a question: what must be done in order to improve the quality and increase the number of sports for the blind in this region?

Chess, Goalball, Alpine and Nordic Skiing and Athletics would seem to be the most widely practised sports and, moreover, are perfectly well-known. Showdown and Powerlifting receive special support in certain countries, particularly the Czech Republic, although they are not yet fully extended. In addition, competitions in Tandem Cycling are also held on a sporadic basis.

As regards Torball, very little is known about it; even more surprising is the practically nonexistent level of Swimming practice, despite it being a Paralympic sport.

As for youth sports, as we mentioned at the beginning, this was the cornerstone of almost all the declarations. For that reason, it was agreed to study the possible channels through which IBSA could provide economic aid for the Youth Athletics Championships in the Czech Republic.

It was also agreed to issue a formal request to the effect that IBSA officially recognise 'Nine-pin Bowling'. This would enable official Championships to be held, which would receive greater support on the part of the member nations.

Those present all declared that football was the sport they would most like to develop within their national and international structures. It was therefore agreed to support a development project for the creation of a seminar on football within IBSA as soon as possible.

Addresses of interest

1. Belarus Sports Federation for the blind and visually impaired

President, Michail CHRAMCOV,

Amuratoreskaya, 7. MINSK. BELARUS

Tel.: 017 2 23.48.81 * Fax: 23.86.41

2. Cesky Svaz Zrakove Postizenych Sportoveu Czech Blind Athletes Association

President, Hamrozi ALOIS,

Mezi Stadiony, 40. 16017 Prague 6 STRAHOV, Czech Republic

Tel./Fax: 00 420 2 572.10.515

3. Hungarian Sports Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

President, Toth ISTVANNE,

Tel.: 361 121 0440 * Fax: 361 343 7028

4. Slovakian Sports Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

President, Stefan KOPCIK,

Karpatska 32 56/15 058 01 Poprad SLOVAKIA

Tel: 00 421 92 72 1012

5. Croatian Blind Union

President, Branko OMAZIC,

10000 Zagreb * Draskoviceva 80 / iv p.p. 736 * CROATIA

Tel.: 1 43 29 44/385 1 431 039/1 43 23 49

Fax.: 1 43 03 55/385 1 423 349/385 1 430 355

6. Romanian Blind Sports Association

Vatra Luminoase 108 Bis,

73302 Bucurosti/Bucharest * ROMANIA

Tel.: 40 250 6525 or 40 250 6615 * Fax.: 40 250 0519

7. Russian Blind Sports Association and Blind Athletes Federation

14 Novays P * 1036272 Moscow. RUSSIA

Tel.: 923 6160 * Fax.: 923 9149

8. Lithuanian Blind Sports Association

President, Raimundas SIMKS,

Labdariu, 7/11 * 2600 Vilna. LITHUANIA

Tel.: 370 2 62 46 42 * Fax.: 370 2 22 14 64

9. Start

Vice-President, Wlodzimierz UTECHT

Filtrowa, 75 * 02-032 WARSAW

Tel.: 48 12 6593011/48 74 413632

BRIAN SCOBIE

IBSA Technical Manager

FRANZ HASLINGER

Vice-president of IBSA STC

Brian Scobie

"IBSA and Centraland Eastern Europe"

"IN THE LIGHT OF MY EXPERIENCE"

Since 1983, I have been responsible for the work relating to the medical classification of the blind and visually impaired in the Russian Blind Association (VOS) and, since 1987, I have collaborated as ophthalmologist-classifier with the international Committee at the major sports competitions and the Paralympic Games (Barcelona '92, Lillehammer '94 and Atlanta '96).

I believe this experience - applying the IBSA sports classification - may prove of interest both to the organisers of blind competitions and to ophthalmologists.

The visual function provides 80-90% of the information received about our surroundings, much greater than that of the other senses. Impairment of visual functions, due to distinct diseases and injuries, is characterised by the great diversity involved and ranges from slight degrees of low vision to total blindness. Obviously, this causes difficulties both in everyday life and in the practice of sports. It is therefore most important that, in competitions, the degree of visual function of the athletes be as similar as possible; the athletes will thus not win thanks to better vision, but rather thanks to superior training, physical qualities, psychological preparation, experience, etc.

The logic of this classification is based on the physiology of vision, taking into account, as it does, the levels of visual acuity and the field of vision.

Sports Classification

As everyone is aware, IBSA's sports classification is based on the modern classification of blindness of the WHO, and results in three major categories: totally blind (B1); severely visually impaired (B2) and less severely visually impaired (B3). It is plainly evident that athletes from the same category, with similar visual capabilities, should compete together. This is, precisely, what IBSA advocates.

Experience shows (Proceedings of the I Paralympic Congress, Barcelona 1992) that the current system of classifying according to the degree of vision loss proves useful for grouping our sportsmen and women in Athletics events. Moreover, it has significantly reduced the number of controversies during the distinct competitions.

In those sports to which the visually impaired have greater access (Athletics, Nordic and Alpine Skiing), it is totally inadmissible to consider ignoring this system. As an exceptional measure, in certain sports, where the results do not depend so much on the degree of vision loss (Goalball, Torball, Wrestling, Powerlifting, Chess, Swimming and Tandem Cycling), some merging of classes is possible, after consulting with the IBSA Technical Committee, of course. Nevertheless, as a rule, it is not to be recommended that distinct classifications be introduced for different kinds of sports.

The work of the medical Committees has, since 1990, centred on compiling a database of the athletes. This facilitates their work and enables more time to be dedicated to a thorough study of those athletes with progressive forms of ophthalmopathology, as well as of those who have yet to participate in competitions. For this reason, it would be most useful if competition organisers could send information about the competitors to the IBSA medical Committee, according to a standardised model form, specifying the diagnosis, data on the reduction of visual acuity and/or field of vision, and sporting achievements.

The requirements for the work of the Committee include the exchange of experiences and the training of ophthalmologists through courses and seminars. The work of a classifier, as a member of the Committee, has certain peculiarities that require explanation. It is thus expedient to avail of their services at major competitions, World Championships (as was the case of the '96 World Skiing Championships for the disabled in Sunne, jointly organised by IBSA and the IPC) and at the Paralympic Games.

Román Tolmatchev

"In the light of my experience"

"EXTENDING SCHOOL SPORTS

There can be no doubt that, in recent times, the world of sport has become one of the areas of greatest social importance and relevance.

The widespread recognition the Paralympic Games received in Seoul (1988) opened a new channel for achieving an increased awareness on the part of the general public all over the world, through the practice of sports. It is an increasingly unquestionable fact that the disabled in general - even those with severe handicaps - can now demonstrate in these Games that spirit of surmounting obstacles, as well as their capability of confronting problems and thus integrating themselves within this society in a fully normal fashion.

Likewise, in the blind and visually impaired sector, sport has proved to be the method par excellence to ensure a comprehensive preparation for our youngsters, both in the psychosocial and rehabilitation fields.

The International Federation IBSA has, undoubtedly, made a considerable contribution through its enormous efforts aimed at boosting sports for the blind at all levels and in all possible scenarios, always governed by its statutory development. With the recognition of the IOC, and exercising the autonomy that it must enjoy before the IPC in order to be able to carry out its work as member of its executive, IBSA is acquiring an increasing international relevance and has to take on the legitimate leadership in the specific context which corresponds to this federation.

The outcome of its recent V General Assembly must serve to relaunch a policy aimed at consolidating the existing blind sports federations in all the different countries, as well as the creation of new ones in those European countries where they have yet to be established. In each of these states, close relations must be established between the distinct movements and associations for the blind and the respective governmental authorities.

This current situation of stability and absolute consolidation within IBSA should possibly lead us, in this new legislature, to strive for advances in one of the major social challenges facing the blind sector: the education, training and integration of our youth through school sports.

Top competition sport seems to have become the "sole maxim" of the sports administrators. We must, however, start to realise the importance of school sports as, on the one hand, they guarantee the creation of a pool of future athletes and, therefore, the future of competition sport; and, on the other, are also capable of ensuring that, within the overall system of educational integration, the young pupils may acquire the maximum levels of social and educational normalisation. It has been clearly demonstrated that a lack of school sports accessible for the blind generates greater difficulty as regards coming to terms with the disabled condition itself and, as a result, overcoming the inherent difficulties, thus limiting their personal independence and, in short, their self-esteem.

From the Youth Commission of the European Blind Union, I wish to manifest our desire that every effort be made to advance in this area through all kinds of activities. To this end, I wish to use this space in BSI magazine to wish the recently re-elected IBSA President, Enrique Sanz, every success in this new phase which, no doubt, will produce a truly quantifiable advance in the objectives of IBSA and, consequently, our blind athletes.

ENRIQUE PÉREZ BAZÁN

President of the EBU Youth Commission (European Blind Union)

ROMAN TOLMATCHEV. IBSA Medical Manager

Enrique Pérez

"Extending School Sports"