:International Blind Sports Federation
{{short description|International federation of sports for athletes with a vision impairment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = International Blind Sports Federation
| image = International Blind Sports Federation logo.svg
| caption =
| size =
| motto =
| type = Sports federation
| formation = {{Start date and age|1981}}
| headquarters = Bonn, Germany{{Cite web|url=https://ibsasport.org/about/who-we-are/history/|title=History}}
| membership =
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Ilgar Rahimov
| language =
| website = {{URL|http://www.ibsasport.org}}
}}
The International Blind Sports Federation ({{Not a typo|IBSA}}) 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120614/ibsa-russia-belarus-ban|title=International Blind Sports Federation latest body to ban Russia and Belarus|date=16 March 2022|website=www.insidethegames.biz}}
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History
The International Blind Sports Association, known by the acronym 'IBSA', was formed in 1981.{{cite web |title=Former Presidents mark IBSA's 40th anniversary |url=https://ibsasport.org/former-presidents-mark-ibsas-40th-anniversary/ |website=International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) |access-date=28 November 2021 |date=10 October 2021}}
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.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://ibsasport.org/about/who-we-are/history/ |website=International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) |access-date=28 November 2021}} 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.{{cite web |title=Paralympics history |url=https://www.paralympic.org/ipc/history |website=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=28 November 2021}}
Second president (1993 to 2001) was Enrique Sanz (from Spain), followed by Enrique Perrez (2001 to 2005; also from Spain). Fourth president Michael Barredo (from Philippines) served two terms, from 2005 to 2013. Jannie Hammershøi (from Denmark), a former Paralympic goalball athlete, commenced in September 2013 to serve three terms.{{cite news |last1=GODDARD |first1=Emily |title=Danish former Paralympian Hammershøi named IBSA President |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1016225/danish-former-paralympian-hammershoi-named-ibsa-president |access-date=28 November 2021 |agency=Inside the Games |date=1 September 2013}}
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.{{cite web |title=Di Girolamo elected IBSA President |url=https://ibsasport.org/di-girolamo-elected-ibsa-president/ |website=International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) |access-date=28 November 2021 |date=11 October 2021}} The term was cut short with an extraordinary general assembly for 30 June 2023,{{cite web |title=Candidates for the IBSA Extraordinary General Assembly |url=https://ibsasport.org/candidates-for-the-ibsa-extraordinary-general-assembly/ |website=International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) |publisher=International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) |accessdate=22 December 2023 |date=15 June 2023}} whereupon Ilgar Rahimov (from Azerbaijan) commenced his four-year term.{{cite web |title=Ilgar Rahimov is the new IBSA president |url=https://ibsasport.org/ilgar-rahimov-is-the-new-ibsa-president/ |website=International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) |publisher=International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) |accessdate=22 December 2023 |date=30 June 2023}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibsasport.org/sports/|title=Sports|work=ibsasport.org|date=15 February 2016}}
Competition is held within five regions: Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.{{cite web |title=IBSA regions |url=https://ibsasport.org/about/who-we-are/ibsa-regions/ |website=International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) |access-date=28 November 2021}} For the sport of goalball, competitively Asia and Oceania are drawn together as 'Asia-Pacific' region.{{cite web |title=Rules and download |url=https://goalball.sport/about-goalball/rules-and-downloads/ |website=IBSA Goalball |access-date=28 November 2021}}
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 =
{{main|IBSA World Games}}
= IBSA World Youth Games (WYC) =
- Former name: IBSA World Youth and Student Games
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ibsasport.org IBSA official website]
{{International Sports Federations}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Blind sports organizations