Overview
Overview
Beginning in 1998 in Madrid, Spain, the IBSA World Games have become the world’s biggest sport event for athletes with visual impairments.
With various names over the years including the ‘World Blind Sports Championships’ and ‘IBSA World Championships and Games’, the multi-sport competition is held every four years.
The World Games are a chance for new and established athletes to compete against a strong field of their peers in both Paralympic and non-Paralympic sports. Many athletes who competed have gone on to win medals at the Paralympic Games, or reach the highest heights of success elsewhere.
The programme features a wide and varied range of sports which changes with each edition. In the past even alpine skiing and biathlon have made an appearance. However the IBSA governed sports form the core of events. Goalball, judo and blind football competition are usually qualifiers for the Paralympic Games.
IBSA always welcomes interest from countries who might like to host a World Games.