From 12th to 23rd of June in Loano, Italy, eight teams from all over Europe will play for the honour of being crowned IBSA European Champions in the B1 – totally blind – category.

Hosts Italy, reigning champions France, six-times European champions Spain, Germany, Russia, England, Greece and Turkey have arrived in the city in northern Italy and are acclimatising themselves to local conditions during pre-tournament training sessions.

Hosts Italy have never featured among the medal winners at the Europeans, but may throw up a surprise or two on home ground and with support from the local fans.

The 9th IBSA European Football Championships (B1) 2013 are organised by FISPIC, the Italian Federation of Paralympic Sports for the Visually Impaired.

All matches will be held on the artificial grass pitches at the Ellena sports complex in the city.

After two-day classifications, on June the 14th at 15.00 the draw will take place to split the teams into two groups of four, with the top two teams going through to the semi-finals to fight for a slot in the final on June 22nd.

Schedule

Thursday June 13th – sight classification and training

Friday June 14th – draw, training and opening ceremony

Saturday June 15th – league stage. Four games (9.00 – 11.00, 16:00 – 18:00)

Sunday June 16th  – league stage. Four games (9.00 – 11.00, 16:00 – 18:00)

Monday June 17th – league stage. Four games (9.00 – 11.00, 16:00 – 18:00)

Tuesday June 18th – rest day

Wednesday June 19th – semi-finals

Thursday June 20th – play-off match for 7th-8th place

Friday June 21st – play-off matches for 5th-6th place and 3rd-4th place

Saturday June 22nd – final of the 9th IBSA European Football Championships (B1) 2013 at 18.00

For more information contact:

Press officer: Simona Della Croce, + 346 5854891, [email protected]
Project manager: Giancarlo Di Malta, + 335 6902200, [email protected]

…or visit the official web site at http://www.euroblind2013.it/.