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Sports
Visually impaired people can participate in a wide range of sports at all levels from archery to water-skiing. At the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, blind and partially sighted athletes competed in Athletics, Cycling, Equestrian, Football, Goalball, Judo, Sailing and Swimming.
In Britain, sport for blind and partially sighted people is co-ordinated by British Blind Sport (BBS) who are affiliated to the International Blind Sport Federation (IBSA). Established in 1975, BBS is a registered charity that run a number of sport sub committees.
These include archery, athletics, bowls, cricket, football, Goalball, judo, martial arts, shooting, swimming and tenpin bowling. In addition, opportunities are provided to participate in many other sports and recreational activities.
In some sports a classification system is used which relates to visual acuity and field of vision:
B1 A total lack of sight or some light perception but the inability to recognise shapes.
B2 A visual acuity of 2/60 and/or a field of vision of less than 5 degrees.
B3 A visual acuity of 6/60 and/or a field of vision of less than 20 degrees.
Visual acuity is the ability to see objects clearly and to distinguish details. It is measured by reading the top letter from an opticians chart. If a person needs to stand at a distance of 2 metres to be able to clearly read the letter, they have an acuity of 2/60. If they can read it from 6 metres away, they have an acuity of 6/60.
Field of vision is the angle to the left and right you can see when looking straight ahead. A normal field vision is 180 degrees.
Cricket:
The first ever Blind Cricket World Cup was contested in India in 1998. The international game is played with a traditional sized ball that contains ball bearings. All bowling is under arm.
In August 2004 England hosted and won the inaugural blind Ashes. With the Series tied at 2 matches each, England eventually won the final match by 3 wickets with 10 balls remaining.
Domestically, British Blind Sport run 2 five-team divisions plus a knockout cup every year. ( www.blindcricket.org.uk). Presently Leeds and District are the only Yorkshire based team who participate in this.
Cricket CONTINUED
Jump to FOOTBALL Jump to GOALBALL
The game differs from sighted and international blind cricket in that a size 3 football containing ball bearings is used, together with larger stumps that players are allowed to touch in order to orientate themselves.
Visually impaired people can participate in a wide range of sports at all levels from archery to water-
In Britain, sport for blind and partially sighted people is co-
These include archery, athletics, bowls, cricket, football, Goalball, judo, martial arts, shooting, swimming and tenpin bowling. In addition, opportunities are provided to participate in many other sports and recreational activities.
In some sports a classification system is used which relates to visual acuity and field of vision:
B1 A total lack of sight or some light perception but the inability to recognise shapes.
B2 A visual acuity of 2/60 and/or a field of vision of less than 5 degrees.
B3 A visual acuity of 6/60 and/or a field of vision of less than 20 degrees.
Visual acuity is the ability to see objects clearly and to distinguish details. It is measured by reading the top letter from an opticians chart. If a person needs to stand at a distance of 2 metres to be able to clearly read the letter, they have an acuity of 2/60. If they can read it from 6 metres away, they have an acuity of 6/60.
Field of vision is the angle to the left and right you can see when looking straight ahead. A normal field vision is 180 degrees.
Cricket:
The first ever Blind Cricket World Cup was contested in India in 1998. The international game is played with a traditional sized ball that contains ball bearings. All bowling is under arm.
In August 2004 England hosted and won the inaugural blind Ashes. With the Series tied at 2 matches each, England eventually won the final match by 3 wickets with 10 balls remaining.
Domestically, British Blind Sport run 2 five-
Cricket CONTINUED
Jump to FOOTBALL Jump to GOALBALL
The game differs from sighted and international blind cricket in that a size 3 football containing ball bearings is used, together with larger stumps that players are allowed to touch in order to orientate themselves.
