Al Noor to host goalball tournament for the blind

Muscat, July 3

The Al Noor Association for the Blind has announced that it will host the Gulf Clubs and Associations Challenge Goalball Tournament for the Blind from July 19 to 24. Six teams from Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar will participate in the tournament at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Baushar.

This was announced at a press conference held by the association in the presence of Dr Raed al Farsi, chairman of the Association, Dr Mansour al Touqi, Chairman of the Oman Paralympic Committee, Captain Aseel Al Sulaimi, coach of the national goalball team for the blind, and Asaad Al Dhahili, chairman of the tournament's technical committee and national team players.

Dr Al Farsi affirmed the association's readiness to host the tournament, pointing out that the technical coordination with the participating teams and the determination of the tournament venue had been completed. He explained that the association cares about people with visual disabilities in all sports, cultural, artistic, and social fields, and strives to be their voice in the concerned institutions. The association has proven that people with visual disabilities are capable of creativity and excellence in sports activities, including goalball.

The association implements its summer programs and activities in its four branches in the governorates of Oman, and about 760 members of sighted and blind people work in it. The association's summer sports activities continue for a month, including a sports week for blind women entitled "A Step Towards Confidence", in addition to cultural and recreational events.

Dr Al Touqi pointed out that the tournament is an opportunity to achieve good results for Oman. He explained that the role of the Oman Paralympic Committee revolves around the administrative, technical, and organizational process, as work teams have been formed to follow up the implementation process, manage matches, referee, monitor complaints and results, and prepare the main hall. He added that the Paralympic Committee supervises three disabilities: motor, visual, and cerebral palsy, and these disability categories practice many sports. He pointed out that the Oman Paralympic Committee has established joint relations with associations such as the Noor Association for the Blind, the Association for Children with Disabilities, and the Oman Sailing Foundation, which has contributed to expanding the scope of sports for people with disabilities with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth. One of the most prominent upcoming events is the Sultanate's hosting of the West Asian Paralympic Games in 2026 with the participation of 16 countries.

Asaad Al Dhahili said that the five-day tournament will include 19 matches, 15 of which will be in the group stage and 4 in the final round. To ensure the quality of refereeing, 10 international referees and 10 local referees have been invited. He stressed that the tournament will contribute to raising the technical levels of the national team players after their suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic, pointing out that goalball is one of the best sports for the visually impaired.