The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Administration held its first online meeting with the newly elected Sports Committee Chairpersons, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the development of IBSA sports.

The meeting, which focused on collaboration and future planning, included key members of IBSA Administration and the newly selected sports committee heads.

IBSA Administration: Rufat Hajili – Executive Director, Mariano Travaglino – Sports Manager, Jane D Blaine – Classification Manager, Juliana Soares – Head of Anti-Doping, Anca Chereches and Elisabeta Vuscan – Administrative Assistants, Narmin Zarbaliyeva – Finance Manager, Azar Tapdigov – Interim Media Manager.

Sports Committee Chairpersons: Goalball – Michael Dennis, Para Judo -Janos Tardos, Blind Football – Fabio Vasconcelos, Chess -Sorin Lapadatu, Showdown -Zdenek Barlok, Powerlifting – Tinatin Revazashvilli, Ninepin Bowling – Ruza Markesic.

The meeting opened with a message from IBSA President Ilgar Rahimov, delivered by Executive Director Rufat Hajili. President Rahimov emphasized IBSA’s mission of fostering excellence and inclusion in sports for athletes with visual impairments. He outlined the key objectives for the committees and wished everyone success in their roles.

Following this, IBSA Sports Manager Mariano Travaglino delivered a detailed presentation that covered the scope of work for each committee. Key points included:
Defining the roles and responsibilities of the committees.
Setting goals for upcoming events and programs.
Strategies for expanding athlete participation and visibility.
Each Sports Committee Chairperson then shared their ideas and proposals for advancing their respective disciplines. Discussions revolved around improving athlete engagement, enhancing competitive structures, and building stronger partnerships with national federations and stakeholders.

This meeting served as a crucial starting point for aligning the efforts of IBSA’s committees with its overall vision. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, IBSA aims to elevate its sports programs and create more opportunities for athletes with visual impairments worldwide.