China Claims Top Prize at London 2012 Goalball Test Event

“The London International Goalball Tournament has been vital for us to test our operations and to test the transition of the venue and field of play from Handball to Goalball, replicating the same transition as at Games time."

At the first London 2012 Paralympic test event, China took home the title from the London International Goalball Tournament at the Handball Arena in London’s Olympic Park.

The Goalball test event, part of the London Prepares series, gave local residents and school children the chance to watch Goalball – a sport for visually impaired athletes – for the first time. The event was also used by the London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG) to test key operations, including technology and timing, workforce and the transition of the field of play following the Handball test event the weekend prior.

Five women’s teams from China, Canada, Great Britain, Sweden and USA battled it out, as China maintained a perfect record in the two-day event and crushed Canada in the finals. Canada claimed silver and USA took bronze. Sweden finished fourth and host nation Great Britain finished in last place.

Debbie Jevans, Director of Sport at LOCOG said: “The London International Goalball Tournament has been vital for us to test our operations and to test the transition of the venue and field of play from Handball to Goalball, replicating the same transition as at Games time. We are really happy with how both the transition and the tournament have gone, and it was great to get spectators into the Handball Arena to watch world-class Paralympic Sport.”

Goalball will be one of 20 sports featured at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.