Future direction of IBSA to be discussed at 2019 General Assembly

The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) has released the first details about items which will be presented to members as its 2019 General Assembly in Fort Wayne, USA, from 3-6 July.

Opening the discussions on day one will be the new IBSA strategic plan which will take the organisation from 2020 to 2024. This will feature finances, the future of the IBSA sports, and classification.

Members will be consulted on how the Executive Board plan to make IBSA the world’s leading organisation for blind and visually impaired sports.

Elsewhere on the agenda, attendees will receive an update about the progress of a sports specific classification system for judo.

IBSA are also delighted to confirm that representatives from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Organising Committee will attend the General Assembly.

Kazuo Kondo, Toshihiko Yamada and Eita Otsubo, the respective sport managers for goalball, judo and football 5-a-side, will present the progress being made in the planning for next year’s Paralympics.

Jannie Hammershoi, IBSA President, said: “Planning for the 11th IBSA General Assembly is going well and we are excited to announce the first few items which will be presented to our 120 members in July.

“Despite it not being an election year there are still important decisions to be made by our constituents. Not least the IBSA Strategic Plan for 2020-2024 which will take us into a crucial period following the next Paralympics. It is vital that our membership comes together to decide what kind of organisation it wants IBSA to be in five years time.

“Transformational progress is also being made within the IBSA sports, particularly around classification, and we have several updates to present in this area. Finally the presentations from Tokyo 2020 will give an insight into just how much or a turning point the next Paralympics could be for the sports and our movement as a whole.

“I strongly encourage all members to attend to be part of this historic occasion in Fort Wayne. I look forward to meeting them all there and am confident they will receive a warm welcome from our hosts, the United States Association of Blind Athletes.”

The 2019 IBSA General Assembly will take place alongside the 2019 IBSA Goalball and Judo International Qualifier from 2-9 July. The competition will be a chance for athletes and teams to book their tickets for Tokyo 2020.

Registration is open now at http://www.ibsafortwayne2019.com/ until 19 April and the registration fee includes all accommodation and meals between 3-6 July.