Goalball: A Sport of Sound and Skill

Goalball is a team sport specifically designed for athletes with visual impairments. Invented in 1946 by Austrian Hanz Lorenzen and German Sepp Renidle as a rehabilitation tool for war veterans, it has since become a popular Paralympic sport. The game involves two teams of three players, each attempting to roll a ball with bells inside into the opponent’s goal, while blindfolded. Players rely heavily on sound cues to locate the ball and position themselves on the court. The game is played on a rectangular court divided by a center line. Each team defends their own half, with the goal located at each end of the court. The aim is to score more goals than the opposing team, with matches typically lasting 50 minutes. Goalball is a dynamic and exciting sport that showcases the strength and agility of visually impaired athletes.