Austria to develop blind football

As part of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations)-backed IBSA Blind Football Development Project Europe, an experienced national blind football coach will conduct training sessions with local players over the weekend in Vienna, Austria.

He will teach them the basics of the game and help develop the sport in the country. Local coaches will also be trained in working with blind players.

Through the newly-established blind football programme, Austria will receive balls and eyeshades free of charge to kick-start their activities, with Austrian club Rapid Vienna taking part in this initiative.

The Austrian B1 (totally blind players) programme joins an already successful partially sighted football (B2/B3) programme in the country.

Austria competed at the 2014 IBSA Partially Sighted Football European Championships in La Spezia, Italy, finishing in seventh place.

Last year, they also hosted a five-team international friendly tournament featuring IBSA World Champions Ukraine, England, France and Ireland in Steinbrunn.

For more information, visit IBSA´s website.