Cookies help our website to remember you and your preferences. For more information or to update your cookie settings, please go to our privacy policy.

Accept Decline
Skip to content.

The national charity and leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity

Menu. Open and close this menu with the ENTER key.

IBSA World Games to open in Birmingham

The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games will see more than 1,150 athletes from 70 countries compete in Birmingham over the next 10 days.

The IBSA World Games 2023 logo.

The Games will officially get underway with an opening ceremony at 6pm today (18 Aug). The event is set to be one of the largest ever gatherings of elite blind and partially sighted musicians, dancers and athletes. The Inner Vision Orchestra, the world’s only professional ensemble of blind and visually impaired musicians, will perform at the ceremony that is taking place in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. You can watch it live on the IBSA YouTube channel by clicking here.

The IBSA World Games are regarded as the largest high-level international event for athletes with a visual impairment. Competitors will take part in an array of sports including archery, chess, cricket, football, goalball, judo, powerlifting, showdown, ten pin bowling, and tennis.

Goalball, judo, and men's football are all serving as qualification tournaments for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

British Blind Sport will host an Activation Zone in Birmingham from 21st-25th August, offering blind and partially sighted participants free sports sessions in partnership with National Governing Bodies.

The Activation Zone will be open from 11am to 2pm at Chancellor’s Court, University of Birmingham. The event will feature a line-up of sporting activity taster sessions for blind and partially sighted people of all ages and abilities. Alongside activities there will be the opportunity to find out about opportunities to take part in their local areas.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) are lead sponsors for of the World Games. Matt Stringer, their Chief Executive, highlighted his hopes ahead of the competition:

"Blind and partially sighted people know how beneficial it is to stay fit and active, but for many with sight loss it is not accessible to actually get involved in physical sport.
"It is hoped that this global event will encourage more people with sight loss to get involved in sport as well as encouraging sports providers to take proactive steps to be welcoming and inclusive.
"There are many sports that people wrongly think blind and partially sighted people are unable to participate in and hopefully the World Games will challenge these misconceptions."

If you would like to know more about the 2023 IBSA World Games click here to visit the official website.

To find out more about the work of British Blind Sport visit their website by clicking here.