International Blind Sports Federation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedThe International Blind Sports Federation is the global governing body for numerous sports for athletes who are blind or partially sighted.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) is an international nonprofit sports organization representing athletes with visual impairments. Established in Paris in 1981 under the name International Blind Sports Association, it was created to promote participation in sport, support competitive opportunities, and advance the social inclusion of blind and partially sighted people. The federation later adopted its current name, reflecting its development from an association into an international governing federation, and was subsequently registered and relocated to Bonn, Germany. IBSA occupies an important place in the international disability-sport system. It was one of the organizations that helped establish the International Co-coordinating Committee Sports for the Disabled in the World in 1982. That coordinating body became the International Paralympic Committee in 1989, making IBSA one of the founding members of the IPC. The federation continues to work within the Paralympic movement while also governing sports and competitions that are not part of the Paralympic programme. Its sporting portfolio includes three Paralympic disciplines—blind football, goalball, and Para judo—as well as chess, powerlifting, ten-pin bowling, nine-pin bowling, torball, and showdown. IBSA organizes or oversees world and regional competitions, develops opportunities for athletes at different levels, and coordinates activity through five geographic regions: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Goalball administration uses an Asia-Pacific grouping for competitive purposes in some contexts. The federation's principal multi-sport event is the IBSA World Championships and Games, staged on a four-year cycle. Editions have been held in Madrid, Quebec City, São Paulo, Antalya, and Seoul, with the 2015 Seoul event featuring sports including powerlifting, judo, goalball, blind football, chess, ten-pin bowling, tandem cycling, swimming, showdown, and athletics. IBSA also supports regional and continental championships, with regional events generally taking place in odd-numbered years and world championships scheduled in cycles that take account of the Paralympic calendar. IBSA is led by elected presidents and operates as an international federation rather than a commercial consumer brand. Its public identity is closely associated with the acronym IBSA and with visual references to Braille, reinforcing its focus on athletes with visual impairments. In March 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, IBSA excluded Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from its events. In 2023, Ilgar Rahimov of Azerbaijan became president after an extraordinary general assembly. Public reference material identifies IBSA as an active international sports-governing organization, although detailed current financial, staffing, and membership information is limited.
History
The International Blind Sports Federation began in 1981 as the International Blind Sports Association. It was founded in Paris to create an international structure for sport involving athletes who are blind or partially sighted, and to use sport as a means of participation, achievement, and social integration. The organization's first president was Jens Bromann, a Danish Paralympic runner and skier, who served for eight years. IBSA became involved in the formation of the International Co-coordinating Committee Sports for the Disabled in the World in 1982. The ICC was a major predecessor to the International Paralympic Committee, which was established on 22 September 1989. IBSA therefore became one of the IPC's founding members and has remained connected to the global Paralympic system. Its work has combined the governance of Paralympic sports with the development of disciplines outside the Paralympic programme. Leadership subsequently passed to Enrique Sanz of Spain, who served from 1993 to 2001, and Enrique Perrez, also of Spain, who served from 2001 to 2005. Michael Barredo of the Philippines then served two terms between 2005 and 2013. Jannie Hammershøi of Denmark, a former Paralympic goalball athlete, began his presidency in September 2013 and served three terms. During the early 2000s, the organization changed its English name from International Blind Sports Association to International Blind Sports Federation. The change took place while the federation was based in Spain and used the ibsa.es web address. It was later relocated and registered in Bonn, Germany. IBSA's visual identity has included Braille-inspired representations of its acronym, emphasizing the organization's connection with people with visual impairments. Sandro Di Girolamo of Italy, who also led the Italian blind sports association, began a four-year presidential term on 11 October 2021. The term ended early after an extraordinary general assembly convened on 30 June 2023, after which Ilgar Rahimov of Azerbaijan began a new four-year term. IBSA administers or supports a broad range of sports. Its Paralympic disciplines are blind football, goalball, and Para judo. Other sports in its portfolio include chess, powerlifting, ten-pin bowling, nine-pin bowling, torball, and showdown. The federation organizes competitions through African, American, Asian, European, and Oceanian structures, while goalball uses an Asia-Pacific regional grouping in relevant competitive arrangements. The IBSA World Championships and Games are the federation's principal multi-sport event. The first edition took place in Madrid in 1998, followed by Quebec City in 2003, São Paulo in 2007, Antalya in 2011, and Seoul in 2015. The Seoul edition included ten sports and disciplines, demonstrating IBSA's role as both a sport-specific regulator and a multi-sport event organizer. World and regional championships are also held in individual sports, generally following a cycle that places regional championships in odd-numbered years and world championships in four-year schedules coordinated with the Paralympic calendar. In March 2022, IBSA responded to the war in Ukraine by excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from its events. The measure was a significant example of the federation applying international-event eligibility policy in response to geopolitical circumstances. Publicly available information describes IBSA as an active nonprofit federation, but does not provide a complete current account of its membership, finances, staffing, or commercial activities.
- 2023
Ilgar Rahimov becomes president
[1]An extraordinary general assembly results in Rahimov beginning a four-year presidential term.
- 2022
Russian and Belarusian participation is prohibited
[1]IBSA bans athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus from its events following the invasion of Ukraine.
- 2021
Sandro Di Girolamo becomes president
[1]The Italian sports administrator begins a four-year presidential term in October.
- 2015
IBSA World Championships and Games in Seoul
[1]Seoul hosts the fifth edition from 8 to 18 May, featuring competitions across ten sports and disciplines.
- 2011
Fourth IBSA World Championships and Games
[1]Antalya hosts the fourth edition.
- 2007
Third IBSA World Championships and Games
[1]São Paulo hosts the third edition.
- 2003
Name changes from association to federation
[1]The organization adopts the International Blind Sports Federation name during its period of operation in Spain.
- 2003
Second IBSA World Championships and Games
[1]Quebec City hosts the second edition of the multi-sport games.
- 1998
First IBSA World Championships and Games
[1]Madrid hosts the inaugural edition of IBSA's principal multi-sport event.
- 1989
International Paralympic Committee is established
[1]The ICC evolves into the International Paralympic Committee, with IBSA recognized as a founding member.
Products and positioning
A global nonprofit federation dedicated to inclusive sport, athlete development, and competition for people who are blind or partially sighted, with a founding role in the Paralympic movement.
Multi-sport event · 1998
IBSA World Championships and Games
IBSA's principal multi-sport competition, held on a four-year cycle. It brings together events for athletes with visual impairments across sports such as goalball, blind football, Para judo, powerlifting, chess, bowling, swimming, athletics, tandem cycling, and showdown, depending on the edition.
Youth multi-sport event
IBSA World Youth Games
A youth-focused international competition associated with IBSA, formerly referred to as the IBSA World Youth and Student Games. It provides development and competition opportunities for younger athletes with visual impairments.
Paralympic sport
Goalball
A team sport designed for athletes with visual impairments and played with an audible ball. IBSA is an international governing body for the sport and coordinates world and regional competition through its member structure.
Paralympic sport
Blind football
The adapted football discipline for blind athletes, governed internationally within the IBSA sports portfolio. It is one of the federation's three Paralympic sports.
Paralympic sport
Para judo
Judo competition for athletes with visual impairments and one of the three Paralympic disciplines within IBSA's international governance responsibilities.
Brand decisions
2023
Presidential transition after extraordinary assemblyOtherBackground
The presidency of Sandro Di Girolamo ended before the completion of his announced four-year term.
Action taken
An extraordinary general assembly held on 30 June 2023 resulted in Ilgar Rahimov commencing a four-year presidential term.
Aftermath
Rahimov became the federation's president and continued IBSA's international governance under new leadership.
2022
Exclusion of Russian and Belarusian participantsOtherBackground
The decision followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and broader international sports responses to the conflict.
Action taken
IBSA prohibited Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from taking part in its events.
Aftermath
The restriction changed eligibility for IBSA competitions and remained a significant federation policy measure associated with the 2022 season.
Sources2 sources
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