International Blind Sports Federation

History

The International Blind Sports Association, known by the acronym 'IBSA', was formed in 1981.

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. 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.

Second president (1993 to 2001) was Enrique Sanz (from Spain), followed by Enrique Perrez (2001 to 2005; also from Spain).

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. The term was cut short with an extraordinary general assembly for 30 June 2023, whereupon Ilgar Rahimov (from Azerbaijan) commenced his four-year term.

In December 2025 the federation did the first-known release of a budget, and strategic plan.

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.

Competition is held within five regions: Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. For the sport of goalball, competitively Asia and Oceania are drawn together as 'Asia-Pacific' region.

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 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 organises 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 article: IBSA World Games

IBSA World Youth Games (WYC)

• Former name: IBSA World Youth and Student Games

References

References

1. "History".
2. (16 March 2022). "International Blind Sports Federation latest body to ban Russia and Belarus".
3. (10 October 2021). "Former Presidents mark IBSA's 40th anniversary".
4. "History".
5. "Paralympics history".
6. (11 October 2021). "Di Girolamo elected IBSA President".
7. (15 June 2023). "Candidates for the IBSA Extraordinary General Assembly". International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA).
8. (30 June 2023). "Ilgar Rahimov is the new IBSA president". International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA).
9. (24 December 2025). "IBSA Budget 2026: A New Financial Policy and a New Framework for Sustainable Development".
10. (23 December 2025). "IBSA Executive Board Approves the Strategic Framework 2025–2030".
11. (15 February 2016). "Sports". ibsasport.org.
12. "IBSA regions".
13. "Rules and download".
14. "Madrid '98". IBSA.
15. "II IBSA World Championships and Games". IBSA.
16. "3rd IBSA World Championships and Games Brazil 2007". IBSA.
17. "IBSA World Championships and Games Antalya 2011". IBSA.
18. (11 May 2020). "Birmingham named as host of 2023 IBSA World Games".
19. (16 November 2024). "President’s Blog: IBSA Board meeting of November 15, 2024". International Blind Sports Federation.
20. https://usaba.org/files/uploads/2011_WYC_Medal_Count.pdf{{Dead link. (January 2020)
21. "Final Results: 2017 IBSA Goalball World Youth Championships – News – IBSA".