Today sees the first day’s play in this major international event, which brings together nine national goalball men’s teams and four women’s teams in Madrid in an event organised by the Spanish Blind Sports Federation (FEDC).
 

Play began this morning at 10am at the Chema Martínez Sports Centre with the first game between Finland and Spain B in men’s group A, and continues until lunchtime on Sunday with the medal matches at the European University in Madrid.

Among the participating teams in the men’s tournament are Finland, Paralympic champions last year in London, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Great Britain, Portugal, hosts Spain and a Spain B team made up of young up- and-coming players.
 

Competing in the women’s tournament are Finland, fourth at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Sweden, bronze medallists in London, Germany and Spain, fourth in Europe in 2011.
 

The Madrid tournament is a major event on the international goalball calendar as teams prepare for this year’s IBSA Goalball European Championships Men & Women A in Turkey in November, a qualifier for the 2014 IBSA Goalball World Championships in Finland in June next year.
 

The local men’s team will be looking to qualify for the major upcoming events, having just missed out on a place in London last year, while the women will try to build on their excellent performance at the last Europeans. 
 
Click on the link above for the full schedule.

Games will be streamed live on http://www.goalball.es/.