The IBSA Goalball Sport Committee released the application form for all the teams that wish to apply for the 2023 IBSA World Games, which will be taking place in Birmingham, UK, between August 18 and 27.

This tournament will be used to fill any qualification slots for the 2024 Paralympic Games not otherwise filled by the host nation, qualification at the 2022 IBSA World Goalball Championships, or through qualification at the 2023 IBSA Goalball Regional Championship tournaments (African Championships, Asia/Pacific Championships, European Championships – Group A, Parapan American Games).

The IBSA Goalball Sub-Committee will review applications to select a maximum of sixteen (16) men’s teams and sixteen (16) women’s teams to be invited to participate in this tournament. Selection will be based on team performance at the previous IBSA World Goalball Championships followed by the ranking of teams within their regional qualification tournaments preceding the previous IBSA Goalball World Championships.

The application process will begin on January 7, 2023 (0900 GMT). The deadline for IBSA member federations to apply for participation is January 25, 2023 (1800 GMT). Email applications (appendix 1 in the form below) must be sent to: [email protected] with the title: “Application 2023 Ranking Tournament”. In your email application, please attach a completed copy of the document attached to this letter.

The list of countries that made applications will be published to the IBSA goalball website two weeks from the date the application process opens, and a final list of applications will be made after the application window closes.

Once applications have been reviewed, a final listing of applications that were selected to compete in the 2023 IBSA Goalball Paralympic Ranking Tournament will be published to the IBSA website, www.ibsasport.org, on/about January 27, 2023. The competition organiser will then contact the IBSA member federations to begin the registration and entry process.

Additionally, selected federations will be required to complete by-number and by-name entries for their teams in the IBSA Sports Administration System (ISAS). The deadline to complete the by-number entry will be February 10, 2023. The window for teams to complete by-name entries will be March 1, 2023, through April 30, 2023.

Download the form here.