GoalballGoalball is a sport where the object is to roll the ball past the opposition defence and into the opponent’s goal. A bell inside the competition ball enables defending players to hear it and move to stop it going through the goal. is a unique Paralympic sport which is exclusively for athletes who are blind or have a vision impairmentdisability.

With Australia on the verge of competing at the ParalympicsGames held in parallel (or beside) the Olympic Games for athletes with disabilities. in Goalball for the first time since Sydney 2000Home of the 2000 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games., the APCAustralian Paralympic Committee - The governing body for Paralympic sport in Australia. explains why this sport captures everything that is great about Paralympic sport.

Goalball - The Facts

• Goalball is open to vision impairedThis refers to any group condition which interferes with 'normal' vision. This incorporates the entire range of vision difficulties, from correctable conditions through to total blindness. athletes.
• It is unique to the Paralympic Games.
• The object it to roll the ball past the opposition defence and into the opponent’s goal.  A bell inside the competition ball enables defending players to hear it and move to prevent its passage.
• Matches are played in two, seven-minute halves.
• There are three players on each side.
• Goalball became a Paralympic Games sport in Seoul in 1988.

ClassificationAthletes are classified by classifiers into classes by their ability to function. The aim is to ensure that athletes of similar ability compete against one another.

As Goalball is only open to visually impaired athletes who are all required to wear blackout goggles, there is not need for classifying athletes.