RNIB - See Sport Differently

Finals day on Sunday 27 August 2023 for the Blind Tennis at the IBSA World Blind Games 2023 in Birmingham and a Silver medal for Neil Balmford in the Men’s B3 Singles and RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey managed to catch a few words with Neil just after his silver winning match.


Image shows IBSA World Blind Games Birmingham 2023 logo

Although the game of goalball is popular in Germany, there is a need to grow a new generation of players to represent the country in global tournaments.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to the Goalball Women’s Assistant Coach to find out more.

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Image Shows IBSA World Games 2023 Logo

Aurora Zanolin is the Chair of IBSA Goalball and told RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell about the popularity of the game and the standard of play at this year’s IBSA World Games in Birmingham.

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Image Shows IBSA World Games 2023 Logo

At the IBSA World Blind Games in Birmingham blind and partially sighted women from England Australia and India came together to compete on the cricket pitch for the first time.

After a week of matches against each other on Saturday 26 August 2023 the final of the IBSA World Blind Games 2023 Women’s Blind Cricket final was held at Edgbaston between Australia and India with a win for India. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was pitch side and caught up with Deepika T C captain of the Indian Women’s Team just after the medal ceremony. 


Image shows Toby interviewing Deepika T C  with her gold medal on the pitch at Edgbaston

Edgbaston, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club and many test matches came alive on Saturday 26 August 2023 with the IBSA World Blind Games Men’s Cricket final as Pakistan took on India. 

Many runs were scored during the match with a win to Pakistan by 8 wickets and RNIB Connect Radios Toby Davey caught up with, Yousaf Haroon, coach of the Pakistan Team during the pitch celebrations.


Image shows the Pakistan team celebrating on the pitch at Edgbaston

The final of the Women’s Blind Cricket at the IBSA World Games 2023 between India and Australia took place on Saturday 26 August 2023 at Edgbaston home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club and host to many test match cricket finals too.

Sadly a defeat for Australia in the first World Blind Women’s Cricket Championships but a great pairing of Cortney Webeck and Courtney Lewis 30 runs and 29 runs respectively with 3 boundaries between them too. 

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Courtney Lewis just after the Australian Women’s Blind Cricket Team had been awarded their silver medals to find out how the game had gone for her and what it was like playing on the Edgbaston pitch in the first Women’s World Blind Cricket final.


Image shows Toby interviewing Courtney as Edgbaston

Romania’s Dacian Pribeanub, scooped a gold and a silver medal at the IBSA World Games in Birmingham at the inaugural blind chess tournament.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to him after the awards ceremony.

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Image Shows IBSA World Games Logo

Romania’s Dacian Pribeanub, scooped a gold and a silver medal at the IBSA World Games in Birmingham at the inaugural blind chess tournament.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to him after the awards ceremony.

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Image Shows IBSA World Games Logo

The game of blind chess made it’s debut at the 2023 IBSA World Games in Birmingham and RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to the IBSA Chair of Chess, Sorin Lapadatu after the tournaments medals were awarded.

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Image Shows RNIB's Allan Russell Chatting with Sorin Lapadatu

The 2023 IBSA World Games were held in Birmingham and, as with all elite athlete events, anti doping officials are in attendance.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to 2 of the officials involved in athlete testing.

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Image Shows RNIB's Allan Russell Chatting with Marcello & Juliana