Coventry has been announced as one of the host cities alongside Birmingham for the world’s largest sporting event for blind and partially sighted people this summer.

The 2023 IBSA World Games is taking place in the UK for the first time between Friday, August 18 and Sunday, August 27 – with Coventry Building Society Arena set to host men’s and women’s goalball in the venue’s Indoor Arena between Sunday, August 20 and Sunday, August 27.

Goalball was created especially for blind and partially sighted athletes and is one of 10 sports at the World Games, which will see male and female goalball athletes competing for qualification for the 2024 Paralympics being held in Paris, alongside judo and men’s blind football.

The majority of sports at the 2023 IBSA World Games, which is supported by lead sponsor RNIB, are being held across the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston campus, as well as other nearby regional venues.

The World Games will see around 1,250 blind and partially sighted athletes from 70 countries competing in other sports including archery, chess, men’s and women’s cricket, powerlifting, ten pin bowling, tennis, and showdown.

The UK is hosting the seventh edition of the World Games – which is held every four years – following a successful joint bid between British Blind Sport, Birmingham City Council, Sport Birmingham, UK Sport, and the University of Birmingham.