Sport for blind and visually impaired people

Information

Irish Blind Sports

Irish Blind Sports is the national governing body in Ireland for sporting activities for blind and visually impaired people. The organisation was founded in 1989 to encourage the participation in sport by blind and visually impaired people at all levels. The organisation has an executive committee and a constitution that outlines the rules and guidelines under which the activities are undertaken. Funding for Irish Blind Sports comes from the Irish Sports Council.

Membership consists of people of all ages, backgrounds and sporting ability (including elite athletes). Sighted people can also become members of the organisation. In addition to being participants in sport, sighted members frequently act as guides and volunteers, so it is essential to have a mix of sighted, partially sighted and blind members in the organisation.

Sports are conducted at all levels (including elite). Individual members of and teams from Irish Blind Sports have achieved outstanding success at European and World Championship level and in the Paralympic Games. Each sport undertaken by the organisation has its own principal co-ordinator who is responsible for promoting and organising activities within that sport.

In recent years, the organisation has significantly expanded the range of sports it has become involved in. Currently, judo, soccer, skiing, tenpin bowling, swimming, chess and golf and tandem cycling are offered. Activities are organised on a "calendar year" basis. Irish Blind Sports issues a newsletter called "Sportslink", which is forwarded to all members and outlines past, current and upcoming events.

Volunteers, coaches and guides

Volunteers, coaches and guides form an integral part of Irish Blind Sports. Each year, the organisation hosts its "International Festival of Sports" (called the "May Games"). This is an opportunity for elite and non-elite athletes to take part in sport, meet targets, meet up with friends and have fun.