IBSA World Games


The IBSA World Games or World Blind Games are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Blind Sports Federation. The events enable blind and partially sighted athletes to compete in a number of sports. The first event took place at Madrid, Spain in 1998.
The competitions in athletics, swimming, goalball and judo are part of the qualification process for the Paralympic Games.

Events

IBSA World Games

EditionYearHostDatessports
11998, MadridJuly 18–264
22003, QuebecAugust 5–105
32007, São PauloJuly 28-August 86
42011, AntalyaApril 1–107
52015, SeoulMay 8–1810
62019Not held--
72023, BirminghamAugust 18-27TBA

IBSA World Youth Games (WYC)

EditionYearHostDatesSports
12005, Colorado SpringsAugust 4–105
22007, Colorado SpringsJuly 11–175
32009, Colorado SpringsJuly 15–203
42011, Colorado SpringsJuly 13–183
52013, Colorado SpringsSeptember 13–152
62015, Colorado SpringsJuly 26–301
72017, BudaorsJuly 1–91

The inaugural 1998 sports event was held in Madrid, Spain for athletics, swimming, goalball and judo for the blind and vision-impaired.

2003 IBSA World Games

The 2003 Quebec, Canada event included five-a-side football, goalball and judo, other disciplines have been added to the event. Blind athletes were able to compete in the following sports: powerlifting, ten-pin and nine-pin bowling, biathlon, alpine skiing, archery, showdown, swimming, shooting, torball, Nordic skiing, athletics and cycling. Although a lot of winter sports were added to the list such as skiing, but also bowling and many others, but was held in five sports: Swimming, athletics, goalball, judo, and powerlifting.

2007 IBSA World Games

The 2007 Sao Paulo, Brazil sports were powerlifting, judo, goalball, football, swimming, and athletics.
The 2011 Antalya, Turkey sports were athletics, chess, futsal B1, futsal B2/B3, goalball, judo, powerlifting, swimming.

2015 IBSA World Games

The 2015 IBSA World Championships and Games was held from 8 to 18 June 2015, in Seoul, South Korea and included competitions in ten sports:
Venues were scattered around the city, including opening and closing ceremonies at the Jamsil Arena. About 1626 athletes competed from fifty-seven countries. The event motto was 'See with Passion, Run with Hope'. Mascots were Dari, Haechi and Suri.

2019 IBSA World Games

Nominations for the host nation for the 2019 IBSA World Games was called on 3 March 2017. It was not possible to find a host nation able to cater for all the sports. Instead the IBSA Goalball and Judo Paralympic Games qualifying tournaments were held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States of America in June–July 2019, in conjunction with the federation's four-yearly international general assembly.

2023 IBSA World Games

indicated it would commence searching for a host nation in the latter part of 2018. On 11 May 2020, the University of Birmingham, England was announced as the host city, for 18–27 August 2023, with the sports of judo, goalball, football, chess, tenpin bowling, shooting, and showdown.