Some of the world’s best blind footballers are helping spread the message of clean sport thanks to a new partnership between the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA).
 
Teams from around the world competed in Tokyo, Japan, last week at the IBSA Blind Football World Grand Prix. Here players, team officials and spectators recorded messages about what they think represents truth in sport and why it matters to them. Their submissions will be made into a video for social media and will also be shown at future events.
 
It is the first of its kind for blind football and is part of the ‘Play True 2020’ Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy project.
 
Argentina won the 2019 World Grand Prix title after a 2-0 win over England on Sunday (24 March). Their goalkeeper Dario Lencina said: “Sport can open the door to a new life if we do it fair and clean. Sport can make our life important.”

 
As well as their messages, athletes and teams took part in educational activities during the World Grand Prix with the help of officials from JADA.
 
JADA has gathered a comprehensive series of resources into its ‘Real Champion Education Package’ that includes anti-doping rules and regulations and sport values-based materials.
 
Included in this is the ‘PLAY TRUE Book: Athlete Guide’ and its innovative digital audio version, DAISY.
 
DAISY is specially designed for people with visual impairments. It has reading support software that is free to download and makes it easier for athletes to understand the basic requirements of anti-doping and their rights in the process.
 
IBSA and JADA’s contribution to Play True 2020 is also part of the Sport for Tomorrow project, led by the Japanese government. The video and education sessions are just the start of a long-term partnership between the two organisations who both aim to protect the integrity of sport and promote the values of competing clean.
 
IBSA and JADA will continue their partnership and plan to expand the project to goalball and judo – the two other IBSA sports which will be contested at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.