The First International BRICS+ Blind Football Tournament
Russia is preparing to host the inaugural International Blind Football Tournament, which will feature professional teams from the BRICS nations and partner countries.
In the social sphere, the tournament is an inclusive project of public-private partnership. It is a joint initiative of the Russian Blind Football Federation and the BRICS Civil Council, whose founding was endorsed by the leaders of the BRICS nations in the Kazan Declaration during the XVI BRICS Summit.
The origins of blind football can be traced back to the inaugural championship conducted in Brazil in 1980, which paved the way for the first world championship in 1998. At present, it is estimated that approximately 39 million individuals worldwide are blind, while approximately 246 million experience visual impairments of variable severity. In Russia alone, 20.7 million individuals experience a variety of visual impairments.
Since the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) suspended the Russian blind football team from participating in the Blind Football European Championship in March 2022, the initiation of an International Blind Football Tournament in Russia presents a unique opportunity for our athletes to compete against international teams at a high level. The absence from these championships effectively limited Russian athletes' chances to compete in all major international events organised by IBSA up until 2027.
The event is expected to attract representatives from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions, the BRICS Expert Council – Russia, as well as officials from sports agencies and the Russian Paralympic Committee.
The event is organised by the BRICS Expert Council – Russia, and supported by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The title sponsor will be PhosAgro Group, a global champion in the production of phosphate-based fertilisers. The competition will also be supported by VTB Bank (PJSC).
Dates: December 18–20, 2024
Venue: Moscow, Dynamo Sports Academy
Media accreditation: press@bricscouncil.ru (December 16 until 7:00 pm).
Further details about the event will be posted on the official website of the tournament and the Generation BRICS Telegram channel.