Blind sports – follow Abu on social media
Hi I’m Abu-bakr Ishtiaq and I’m a proud registered blind athlete with the Lancashire Lions. I play a wide variety of blind sports, from cricket to baseball, goalball to athletics, tennis, and more. If it’s a sport for the blind, chances are, I’ve played it! What I want to tell you is simple: if I can do it, you can too! Whether you have fully blind, partially sighted, or just starting your journey there is a sport out there waiting for you trust me once you find your passion, there’s no stopping you. So if [...]
I’m blind and this is why I love Ju-Jitsu
By Kieran Clarke The reason that I love Ju-Jitsu so much as a blind person is because it doesn't really have to be adapted for me. I can spar, compete, train and do everything that everyone else can do without any adaptation, unlike other sports. Ju-Jitsu primarily relies on contact and feel of your opponent, so this is great for someone like me that relies on these senses more than the average person. However, sometimes when I'm grappling, I do tend to accidently poke my opponents in the eyes. And I promise this is not from [...]
Be inspired. Showdown players tell us how the sport that’s for everyone has helped their mental health
This #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek VICTA Sport wants to highlight that sport is for everybody and that sense of being part of something and supporting each other can have a really positive impact on your mental health. We chatted to Ellie, Millie, Al, Zehra and Sam, who have all come to showdown in different ways and at different stages in their sight loss journey, but can all agree on the fun, friendships and confidence they've built by giving it a go! Find out what showdown is, why you should give it a try, and how to find a team to play [...]
Upcoming Opportunities in Goalball
Look out for these brand new opportunities with Goalball UK Throughout February and March you can sign up for a couple of fantastic opportunities to try out - or return to - goalball. Check out the details from Goalball UK: Mersey Sharks Goalball Academy Aspire Day – Liverpool Date: Sunday 9th of February – 12:45pm until 4pm Venue: Anfield Community Sports Centre Lower Breck Road, Liverpool, L6 0AG This day is for you if you want to: Learn how to play goalball or improve as a player. Have fun and meet new people. Discover goalball clubs near you. [...]
How can blind people play sports?
VICTA Changemakers Blindness Awareness Month This article is about sports and how visually impaired or blind people play them. There lots of different kind of sports VI people play such as football, goalball, baseball and much more. They can be played through sound, communication and connection. There are different levels of VI classification which participants can take part in – for example B1 is for someone who cannot see at all, B2 means they can see little bit, B3 is someone who can see bit more and B4 is someone who is partially [...]
Things I learnt training for the London Marathon
VICTA Changemakers Blindness Awareness Month On the 21st of April, along with my guide runner, I set out to compete the 2024 TCS London Marathon. I had raised the money for charity (VICTA), done the training and now, it was time for the real thing. Weirdly I don’t remember much about the day itself. I remember the noise though. The cheering and shouting of thousands of families. There were kids banging tambourines in no apparent rhythm and timpani drummers playing in perfect synchronisation. There were out of tune recorder players and brass bands [...]
The Paralympics from a blind perspective
VICTA Changemakers Blindness Awareness Month We are Scarlett and Eliza, two blind swimmers who competed at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. From the enjoyment of what started as just a hobby, to one day achieving your dream, our journey through the sport has given us many experiences that we shall never forget, and taught us valuable skills both in and out of the pool. We are sharing our experiences of the Paralympics from a blind athlete's perspective - not from the sights, but the sounds and feel of the Games. We know that no [...]
Be inspired. Park runs and marathons as a blind runner
Running or jogging is considered one of the best cardio exercises out there. Just 5-10 minutes a day can help to build strong bones and muscles, while lifting your mood and energy levels. For many, outdoor running can also decrease feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression. However, when you have a vision impairment, it's not as simple as just popping out for a quick morning jog on your own. So how can we enjoy the benefits of outdoor running while keeping safe? One answer to that question is guide running. The activity, which uses a ramble tag, enables [...]
New opportunity – Discover your Paralympic potential
Do you have a vision impairment? Ever dreamt of competing in a Paralympic Sport? Let Paralympics GB help you discover your Paralympic Potential at a come and try day in Autumn 2023. The Paralympic Potential programme is the first step in finding what your future Paralympic sport could be. If you want to find a competitive pathway and unlock the opportunities that sport offers, then now is your time to discover your Paralympic Potential. They are hosting come and try days that will include Judo, Football, Goalball, Rowing, Swimming, Cycling, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Athletics [...]
Be inspired. We chat with Cath Gilby – Head of Para-Performance at the FA
VICTA was privileged to attend the 10 year anniversary of St. George’s Park, celebrating 10 years of success in English football. We were excited to join the celebrations and find out more about the FA's involvement supporting players with vision impairments. The FA are championing disability sport and have high hopes for the blind and partially sighted teams. We were lucky enough to meet Cath Gilby, Head of Para-Performance, who chatted to the VICTA Student Portal about the teams, her role in disability sport and getting more people involved. Watch the interview below and have a think about [...]
