More than 4,000 athletes from around the world will compete in 540 medal events during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, taking place between August 28 and September 8, 2024. More than 22 sports will be showcased, including two geared specifically for athletes who are blind or have low vision, goalball and blind football (also known as blind soccer in the United States). Goalball, played competitively in 112 countries, is considered “the most popular team sport for the blind and visually impaired.” The game is played with two teams rolling a basketball-sized ball with bells inside over the opponent’s goal line. Paris 2024 Paralympics will feature eight goal ball teams each in the women’s and men’s categories, including one from the United States. Blind football is “men’s five-a-side football adapted for athletes with a vision impairment.” Eight teams from nations around the world will play at the Paralympics. The U.S. team is currently in development and will be making its premiere at the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles, as covered in a previous issue of this Bulletin. Athletes who are blind or have low vision compete in other Paralympic sports as well, such as swimming and cycling. Additional updates on this year’s games will be featured in future issues of the Bulletin as the Paris 2024 Paralympics approaches. Read more on the International Paralympic Committee website about the 2024 Paralympic Games. To learn more about the “most popular team sport for the blind and visually impaired,” check out the United States Association of Blind Athletes’ web article on Goalball.
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