Dear colleagues, friends, and partners,

April 24th is a special day for the global community of blind and visually impaired sports. On this day in 1981, the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) was founded, and today we celebrate World Blind Sports Day, highlighting its significant role in the lives of millions of people around the world.

This day is not just a celebration but also an opportunity to bring attention to the achievements of our athletes, raise awareness about sports for the blind and visually impaired, and inspire new generations to get involved. We invite all national federations and sports organizations to join in the celebration and organize events that showcase the strength, talent, and perseverance of athletes with visual impairments.

In 2025, we would like to place a special emphasis on the development of both Paralympic and non-Paralympic sports. Sports for the blind and visually impaired include not only goalball, judo, and football, but also many other disciplines such as showdown, chess, powerlifting, bowling, and many more. We encourage you to pay attention to these sports and support their development at both the national and international levels.

Additionally, IBSA is currently working on declaring April 24th as World Blind Sports Day under the auspices of the United Nations. We urge all national federations to actively support this initiative. Your efforts in promoting this day on the international stage, including through diplomatic channels and cooperation with governmental bodies and international organizations, will be invaluable in achieving this goal.

For a successful celebration of World Blind Sports Day, IBSA recommends the following:

• Organize competitions, open training sessions, demonstration performances, or educational seminars.
• Collaborate with national and regional media to cover the events.
• Actively use social media, sharing athletes’ stories and posting materials with the hashtag #WorldBlindSportsDay, #IBSA and tagging @ibsablindsports.
• Engage new generations of athletes and partners, promoting the values of inclusion, equality, and the spirit of sport.

We are confident that, through our collective efforts, we can make World Blind Sports Day a significant and inspiring event. We kindly ask you to share your plans and reports of the events you organize – IBSA will gladly highlight them on its platforms!

Thank you for your support and dedication to the development of sports for the blind and visually impaired. On this day, let us come together to celebrate the achievements of our athletes and promote them on the global stage.

Best wishes,
IBSA Administration