Finland to host 2014 Goalball World Championships

USA's Asya Miller throws during one of her team's games at London 2012. © • Getty

“IBSA Goalball looks forward to working in close collaboration with Finland in the lead-up to what promises to be a most exciting tournament in 2014.”

Following an extensive bid evaluation process, Finland has been chosen as the host nation for the 2014 IBSA Goalball World Championships.

Finland, whose men’s team won Goalball gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, beat runner-up Sweden in its bid to host the Championships two years from now.

"We offer our heartiest congratulations to Finland and sincere thanks and commiserations to all other bidding nations,” IBSA Goalball Chairman Kari Marklund said.

“IBSA Goalball looks forward to working in close collaboration with Finland in the lead-up to what promises to be a most exciting tournament in 2014.”

Finland’s men’s goalball squad will certainly be a squad to watch at the Championships after thrashing Brazil, 8-1, in the London 2012 title game to claim its second Paralympic gold.

In the women’s Paralympic competition in London, Japan edged China for gold at the Copper Box.

Goalball has been a part of the Paralympic Games programme since 1976 but has been around since 1946, when it was

devised to rehabilitate visually impaired veterans who returned home from World War II.