|
Confirming the tremendous surge in popularity
of this sport, 5-a-side football reached the highest levels at the I World
Championships held in Paulinhas, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. This country
perhaps the Mecca of the football world was the ideal setting for
the presentation of this sport on the world stage. Thanks to the fine work
of the Brazilian Blind Sports Association, the organisation was impeccable
and the participating countries were offered a truly warm welcome.
Between September 18th and 27th, twelve teams
from seven different countries, representing three continents, enjoyed the
fervent support of the Brazilian spectators who packed the stands at each
of the sixteen matches and provided the atmosphere in their typical exultant
fashion, clearly impressed by the standard of play offered by the players
each day.
In the B1 category, Brazil's unstoppable offensive
play overcame all comers and, in the final, they beat Argentina who had
turned out to be the revelation team at this event. This followed a spectacular
semi-final between the European and American Champions, when Brazil beat
Spain by a penalty in extra time, in a match played before a packed stadium
and which drew acclaim from the large number of media personnel from many
countries who had come to cover these Championships.
Colombia took fourth place, ahead of Great Britain
and Greece.
As for the B2/B3 category, following their third
place at the European Championships, Belarus surprised the Spanish team
in the final and confirmed their spectacular evolution by becoming the first
World Champions in this event. Italy continues demonstrating its high standard,
this time taking third place, approaching its level to the one of Belarus
and Spain.
Mauritius, the African representative, was participating
in a top-level competition for the first time and put in a worthy performance,
as did Argentina who finished in fourth position. Brazil, the obvious favourite
in any Championship, had to make do with fifth place.
The celebration of these I World Championships
in Brazil marks a further step on the road to this popular sport being admitted
into the IPC sporting calendars. Dates and venue have already been set for
the 1999 Regional Championships, even before this year has ended. Korea
has started building playing facilities exclusively for the B1 teams and
Ivory Coast, together with Egypt, regretted their absence from the Brazil
event due to economic problems, an unmistakable sign that the enormous expectation
raised by this sport is progressively being met within the framework of
the IBSA sports programme. | 
Back to Top