The world’s largest sporting event for blind and partially sighted athletes, the International Blind Sport Federation’s (IBSA) World Games, gets underway in the West Midlands this week, bolstering its growing reputation as a region of choice for major global sporting events.

A year on from the hugely successful Commonwealth Games, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is extending its support to the IBSA World Games as a Tier 3 sponsor.

The region proved its ability to host major sporting events by effectively organising and delivering last summer’s Commonwealth Games under budget.

Goalball is the only sport designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people – image courtesy of IBSA

The IBSA World Games will again see the region showcased on a global platform as host of the largest gathering of blind athletes ever brought to the UK, and the largest blind sporting event in the world this year.

Around 1,250 blind and partially sighted athletes from 70 countries will compete in 10 sports across two weeks at the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston campus, and other venues in Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair will be at the opening ceremony which takes place at Symphony Hall in Birmingham this Friday, 18 August.

The Mayor said: "It’s great news that we’re hosting the IBSA World Games - stepping back onto the global sporting stage after the spectacular Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“We’re pleased to be welcoming what is the world’s largest sporting event for blind and partially sighted athletes to the UK for the first time. This wonderful celebration of blind and partially sighted athletes is a testament to our region's commitment to inclusivity and excellence. 

“We’re excited to be able to extend our support to the IBSA World Games - investing in the Opening Ceremony and a Goalball hub to foster local talent and create more opportunities for blind and partially sighted individuals in the months and years ahead.

“Our proven ability to host major sporting events is why the West Midlands is increasingly seen as the UK region of choice. Whether it’s the IBSA World Games, the Kabaddi World Cup in 2025, or the European Athletics Championships in 2026, our region has secured a number of UK firsts so local people have lots of exciting live events to look forward to in the coming years.”

As part of its support of the IBSA World Games, the WMCA will invest £10,000 to develop a Goalball hub in the region, opening up more opportunities for local people to play what is the only sport designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people.

There is currently just one Goalball club covering the whole of the West Midlands and this investment will support the sport’s governing body in its plans to develop talent here.

The WMCA is also supporting the opening ceremony and plans are being drawn up to host a legacy event 100 days after the IBSA World Games have finished.

Meanwhile, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the WMCA, will use the event as a testbed for new technology that will help blind and partially sighted people get around the region.

Athletes and spectators will get the opportunity to help test Waymap, a new wayfinding app.

The West Midlands will begin the first public testing of the new inclusive technology in the UK and Europe later in the year.

It will help people navigate their way to the venues from Birmingham New Street and University train stations and surrounding outside areas, using sensors in users’ digital devices rather than requiring a mobile data or wi-fi connections.

Wolverhampton bus station is also currently running a trial of Navilens, a series of scannable codes to help people easily find their way around the building. It’s part of a TfWM trial to improve accessibility at the busy bus station.

Sallie Barker, Chair at British Blind Sport, which is the host federation for this year’s IBSA World Games, said: “Inspiring more blind and partially sighted people to take up a sport is one of the key reasons why we wanted to bring the IBSA World Games to the UK, so we are delighted to have received this legacy backing from WMCA.

“The IBSA World Games is about planting the seed in blind and partially sighted people’s minds that sport is accessible to everybody, and the investment we are seeing by the WMCA in a goalball hub in the West Midlands is reflective of the long-term legacy that we want to build across the UK over the coming months and years.”

The RNIB is the lead sponsor of this year’s IBSA World Games. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.ibsagames2023.co.uk.