Adventure and Sports

Funds for blind football

The International Blind Sports Federation (I.B.S.A.) has expressed delight at being awarded U.E.F.A.'s (Union of European Football Association) €650,000 ( Rupees 51,350000) charity cheque for 2006.

In a statement U.E.F.A. said, “Its support confirms the leading role of I.B.S.A. in developing football and other sports for blind and partially sighted people, as well as the federation's position as one of the most active players in sports for people with disabilities."

Hiking in Glacier National Park with Tom Gryder

Tom Gryder (47) is legally blind. He finished a six-day hike through Glacier National Park's backcountry (U.S.), recently. “I really enjoyed the scenery in Glacier National Park. I also saw a plume of smoke from the fire (Red Eagle Fire) which was really interesting,” Gryder said about his escapade. Gryder hiked from Upper Two Medicine to the Walton Ranger Station, averaging seven miles a day. “It's one of the few things I can do. Even though I have to take my time and go slow,“ he said.

Driving for charity

In U.K., a visually impaired woman undertook an amazing challenge. Martine Brooks, 56, drove eight miles along the Great Barford bypass, in Bedfordshire, with the Mayor of Bedford, Frank Branston, in the back. Brooks’ friend and navigator Steve Clarke challenged her to do so. What next? Branston agreed to accompany her on the ride. What’s more, it was aimed to raise £5,000 (approximately Rupees 3,95,000) for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, U.K., on its 75th anniversary.

Sailing scheme for the visually impaired

It will give visually impaired persons a once in a lifetime chance to learn to sail

Blind bowled over by ten-pin sessions

Visual impairment can lead to isolation and lack of social contact. Sport has been found to be the ideal antidote to this. Ten-pin bowling enthusiast Jo Dixon, a member of a blind ten-pin bowling team, claims that the sport has turned her life around.

Dixon, along with other members of a bowling team from British Blind Sports, joined hands with, U.K. charity, The Cambridgeshire Society for the blind and partially sighted (Cam Sight) to organise ten-pin bowling sessions for visually impaired people in Cambridge, in January.

Italy to host international blind sailing championship

Jamaicans win blind cricket title

Jamaica defeated hosts Barbados to win the first ever ‘Regional Blind Cricket Championship’, recently.

In the finals, played at the Carlton Sports Club, Jamaica made 196 for five wickets from 27.1 overs in reply to the Barbados total of 192 for seven from their allotted 35 overs. "It was worked out, it was planned, we just did to Barbados what had to be done to make us champions," said the winning coach Vivalyn Lattie-Scott.

Climbing Mount Yushan

40 mountaineers from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea and Malaysia, will climb the tallest (12,966 feet) peak in Southeast Asia – Mt. Yushan. They are being led by David Chang.

Chang and his fellow climbers are blind, but that isn’t stopping them from scaling Southeast Asia’s highest mountain.

Through this adventure, Chang hopes to put Taiwan on the map by showcasing his determination in ascending Yushan by foot.

Chess champ's classic move

Twenty visually impaired players engaged the reigning world junior rapid chess champion in simultaneous chess, recently in Hyderabad. “Initially I thought it would be pretty easy. But I was taken aback by their wonderful aptitude for the game," said Pendyala Harikrishna. He was in for some real surprise as they lay some `traps' on their specially designed chessboards.

A run for books

N.L.B., based in Stockport(U.K.), is the main provider of leisure reading material for blind and partially sighted people.

It is also one of the few organisations dedicated towards producing books in formats of Braille, audio and giant print, for people with visual impairments.