Goalball

I learned about a sport today that I have always wanted to learn more about: Goalball. Goalball was invented in 1946 by Austrian, Hanz Lorenzen, and German Sepp Reindle, in an effort to help in the rehabilitation of blinded war veterans. This sport was specifically designed for the visually impaired and was not adapted like other sports available to the visually impaired. It is a Paralympic sport that was introduced to the games at the 1976 Toronto Games.

I find it interesting that this sport is able to focus on the athletes abilities as opposed to dwell on their disabilities. Goalball has taken vision completely out of the sport, and the athlete must rely completely on his/her sense of hearing and touch as well as instinct to compete.

I was able to try this sport, and I put on a mask just as any other Goalball athlete would do to completely take away my vision. I realized how much I rely on my vision for simple things such as orienting up and down. I can appreciate how these athletes are truely amazing.