Latin America jumps on the sports bandwagon too

In Barcelona, seven countries presented teams in both categories, B1 and B2/B3, and, from September 14th to 21st, they participated in the I European Championships with spectacular attendance figures on the part of the public. The crowds on the stands of both pitches provided a perfect setting for the matches, with the players fully aware of the fervour of the atmosphere during each game, particularly in the two finals. Two-fold conclusion: one already well-known and confirmed - the extreme popularity of football; the other highly emotive and gratifying - five-a-side football for the blind and visually impaired is attractive, it doubles the intensity and emotion of the spectators who, as was evident from the interminable applause, witnessed once again, this time in a different event, the tremendous efforts made by the blind athletes to surpass themselves in the practice of their favourite sport.

Also in America

The I American Championships, held in Asunción (Paraguay), confirmed that this feeling is universal. Four countries faced the challenge posed by the economic problems and, from October 1st to 4th, participated in a championship which also represented eight other countries that were unable to attend due to travel problems, distances involved and other tribulations. All these problems constitute a common denominator, suffered equally by the European countries who could not participate in Barcelona: the eternal, ever-haunting economic problem.

The next important event is the I World Championship to be held in Brazil in September 1998, with eight teams in each category, including countries representing Africa, Asia and Oceania. A true festival of five-a-side football with representation from all five continents.

Representing Europe, we will see Spain, as European Champions, and Greece, the runners-up, in the B1 category. As for B2/3, Spain will again be present as Champion, together with second-place Italy.

Brazil, American Champion and host, together with Argentina and Colombia, will do the honours in both categories on behalf of America.

Africa has still to select its representatives, as do Asia and Oceania.

Five-a-side Football for the blind and visually impaired is going from strength to strength. The regional championships were highly successful and now it is the turn of the I World Championship, which will be held in Brazil, a country that, in terms of football, needs no introduction.

Five-a-side Football for the blind premiered in public at the American and European Championships, but it must not be forgotten that this sport is already prac-tised on all five continents, as will be clearly demonstrated in BRAZIL '98. All that remains is to premiere in SYDNEY 2000, at the Paralympic Games. An unresolved question not only suffered by Five-a-side Football for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Carlos Campos. Chairman of 5-a-side Football Subcommittee

I EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Countries qualified to represent Europe at the I World Championships:
SPAIN and GREECE in B1; SPAIN and ITALY in B2.

Further statistics:

* TOP SCORER in the B1 category was JOSE LOPEZ RAMIREZ from Spain.
* The team that let in fewest goals was SPAIN.
* The prize for sportsmanship was awarded to the team from GREECE.
* In the B2 category, the TOP SCORER was the Spaniard JOSE M. RAMIRO MARQUEZ.
* The team that let in fewest goals was SPAIN.
* The prize for sportsmanship went to SPAIN.

R E S U L T S

I LATIN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Champion: BRAZIL
Runner-up: ARGENTINA
3rd place: COLOMBIA
4th place: PARAGUAY
Top scorer in B1: IVAN PEREIRA (Brazil)
Fewest goals let in: BRAZIL