UEFA.com

Boosting blind football

The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) has expressed delight at being awarded UEFA's CHF 1 million (€650,000) charity cheque for 2006.

Deserving cause
Since 1998, UEFA has used its August gala events in Monaco - which include the UEFA Super Cup match and herald a new club competition season - to announce the donation of €650,000 to a deserving charitable cause. The award is set to be presented at the UEFA Super Cup tie between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC.

Development project
IBSA will therefore gain sponsorship for a three-year project aimed at developing a series of coaching and refereeing seminars all over Europe, supplying countries with the equipment needed to develop the game nationally and editing a series of teaching DVDs focusing on specific aspects of football for the blind.

Leading role
"UEFA's support confirms the leading role of IBSA in developing football and other sports for the blind and partially sighted, as well as the federation's position as one of the most active players in sports for people with disabilities," UEFA said.

Great moment
IBSA president Michael Barredo added: "This is a great moment for football for the blind in Europe and around the world. UEFA's initiative will enable IBSA to further develop and promote blind Futsal in the continent where football was born. It sends an encouraging message to other continents and we are hopeful we can boost the sport globally with the support of other regional football organisations and offer visually-impaired footballers the chance to play the most popular game in the world."

Vote of confidence
Carlos Campos, IBSA Futsal subcommittee chairman, also welcomed the news. "UEFA support over the last year has made it possible for us to do so much work with many countries, and this added backing will go a long way to enabling us to truly roll out the game Europe-wide," he said. "We are very grateful and I would like to thank UEFA most sincerely for its vote of confidence."



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com