International Blind Sports Federation

The International Blind Sports Federation (Template:Not a typo) is a non-profit organisation founded 1981 in Paris, France. It was formerly known as the International Blind Sports Association. IBSA's mission is to promote the full integration of blind and partially-sighted people in society through sport and to encourage people with a visual impairment to take up and practise sports. IBSA is a full and founding member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

In March 2022, in light of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, it banned Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from its events.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The International Blind Sports Association, known by the acronym 'IBSA', was formed in 1981.<ref name=IBSA40>Template:Cite web</ref>

The inaugural IBSA president was Paralympic runner and skier Jens Bromann (from Denmark) who served eight years, before becoming involved with the International Paralympic Committee from 1988 to 1992.<ref name=IBSA40 /><ref name=IBSAhistory>Template:Cite web</ref> IBSA was one of four organisations, later six, which formed the 'International Co-coordinating Committee Sports for the Disabled in the World' (ICC) in 1982, which on 22 September 1989 became the International Paralympic Committee, as the global governing body of the Paralympic movement.<ref name=IBSAhistory /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Second president (1993 to 2001) was Enrique Sanz (from Spain), followed by Enrique Perrez (2001 to 2005; also from Spain).<ref name=IBSAhistory /> Fourth president Michael Barredo (from Philippines) served two terms, from 2005 to 2013.<ref name=IBSA40 /> Jannie Hammershøi (from Denmark), a former Paralympic goalball athlete, commenced in September 2013 to serve three terms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The association changed its name to federation between 2002 and 2003, when based in Spain and used the web address www.ibsa.es. The federation was later relocated and registered to Bonn, Germany. Its logo also changed at sometime from a representation of a globe, to its initials with the federation name below; in both logos, the acronym of IBSA being represented in Braille dots.

Sixth president Sandro Di Girolamo (from Italy), the president of the Italian blind sports association, commenced a four-year term from Monday 11 October 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The term was cut short with an extraordinary general assembly for 30 June 2023,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> whereupon Ilgar Rahimov (from Azerbaijan) commenced his four-year term.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sports

IBSA is the international federation for several sports for people with a visual impairment, including three Paralympic sports (blind football, goalball and Para judo), powerlifting, ten-pin bowling, nine-pin bowling, torball, and showdown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Competition is held within five regions: Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the sport of goalball, competitively Asia and Oceania are drawn together as 'Asia-Pacific' region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sporting events

IBSA's showcase event is the IBSA World Championships and Games, held every four years. The first games took place in 1998 in Madrid, Spain, followed by the event in 2003 at Quebec City, Canada. The third edition of the games was held in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2007, and the 2011 games took place in Antalya, Turkey.

In 2015, between 8 May and 18 May, the 5th IBSA World Championships and Games was held in Seoul, South Korea, and included competitions in powerlifting, judo, goalball, football, chess, tenpin bowling, tandem cycling, swimming, showdown, and athletics.

IBSA also organizes world and regional championships in many of its sports. Regional or continental championships are generally held in odd years, while world championships take place every four years in even years when there are no Paralympic Games.

Events

IBSA World Games

Edition	Year	Host	Date	Sports
1	1998	Template:Flag, Madrid	18–26 July<ref name="ibsa2">Template:Cite web</ref>	4
2	2003	Template:Flag, Quebec	5–10 August<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	4
3	2007	Template:Flag, São Paulo	28 July – 8 August<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	6
4	2011	Template:Flag, Antalya	1–10 April<ref name="ibsa1">Template:Cite web</ref>	7
5	2015	Template:Flag, Seoul	8–18 May	10
6	2019	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
7	2023	Template:Flag, Birmingham	18–27 August<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	11
8	2027	Template:Flag, Tashkent		<ref name=IBSA-Pres-2024>Template:Cite web</ref>

IBSA World Youth Games (WYC)

• Former name: IBSA World Youth and Student Games

Edition	Year	Host	Dates	Sports
1	2005	Template:Flag, Colorado Springs	August 4–10	5
2	2007	Template:Flag, Colorado Springs	July 11–17	5
3	2009	Template:Flag, Colorado Springs	July 15–20	3
4	2011	Template:Flag, Colorado Springs	July 13–18	3<ref>https://usaba.org/files/uploads/2011_WYC_Medal_Count.pdfTemplate:Dead link - 2011 Medal Table</ref>
5	2013	Template:Flag, Colorado Springs	September 13–15	2
6	2015	Template:Flag, Colorado Springs	July 26–30	1
7	2017	Template:Flag, Budaörs	July 1–9	1<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• International Paralympic Committee
• Paralympic Games
• Ski for Light

External links

• IBSA official website