The international Paralympic Games include many of the same sport that are played in the Olympics . But in plus toeventslike swimming , row , badminton , and association football , there ’s also a sport designed exclusively for athletes who are unreasoning and visually impaired .
Goalball was first develop in Austria keep an eye on the conclusion ofWorld War II . Austrian Hanz Lorenzen and German Sepp Reindle were looking for sports - ground activities to rehabilitate blind state of war warhorse and came up with the inventive idea of fit the inside of balls with bells . It quickly gained traction as a competitive sport with local teams forming in Germany and Austria . Goalball was first usher in on an international platform as a manifestation event during the 1976 Paralympic Games and was made an official event four years later .
The game consists of two teams of three all protecting their various goals on an indoor court . player hurl the3 - pound sign balltoward the opposing squad ’s meshing and the defenders use their bodies in attempt to block it . Raised bumps are placed around the motor hotel to help players feel the perimeter . trust on audio pool cue , including particular terms from other team member , is a Brobdingnagian part of the plot so the audience is expected to continue silent as it ’s being act . To equal the playing field between jock who are blind and those who visually impaired , all thespian must wear shaping disastrous - out goggles on the court .
Goalball is mostly unknown outside the Paralympics , but organize teams are beginning to pop up in more mainstream venues . This twelvemonth , UC Berkeleylaunched what is conceive to be the first competitory collegiate goalball squad in the U.S. , and several other campuses have since followed suit . To find out U.S. goalball players contend on an external level , tune in to next year’sParalympic Gamesin Rio .
