Breaking Barriers in Sport is the campaign launched this year by our Young Voices volunteer group. This project is completely student-led, from deciding on the initial idea to how they will achieve their aim as well as promoting what they are doing.
The campaign is based around promoting inclusivity, equality and fair competition within the world of vision impaired (VI) sport. The classification system for VI athletes was designed to ensure fair competition. The categories range from B1 (totally blind) to B5 (visual acuity better than 6/24 but not better than 6/18 e.g. can see at 6 metres what a fully sighted person would see at 18 metres). The current structure of VI sports, especially internationally, typically only includes athletes from the B1, B2 and B3 categories leaving out athletes from the B4 and B5 categories.
Some VI sports also require their athletes to be patched and blindfolded to compete, such as Goalball and Blind Football. This allows all athletes to have no vision and compete on an even playing field. Why is it that B4 and B5 athletes are excluded from these sports when their level of vision has no impact on their ability to compete? This exclusion does not align with the spirit of sportsmanship or the principles of equal opportunity that sporting competitions aim to uphold.
Sport provides huge benefits for blind and partially sighted people, such as improved mental health, sense of community and improved physical wellbeing. In addition, the opportunity to compete internationally provides VI athletes the opportunity to travel and meet new people. Why should these benefits be taken away from B4 and B5 athletes which can result in worsened mental health, feelings of exclusion from their community and a lack of confidence when it comes to travelling?
Our campaign aims to reconsider the classification systems for VI athletes, especially regarding international competitions, to include all five classifications. We believe this would allow more VI individuals to participate in a wider range of events, fostering greater inclusivity within sport.
If you agree, and would like to support our campaign, we would encourage you to sign our petition and share with your friends, family and networks. We are also asking for feedback regarding the campaign by completing a short form which should take no longer than 5 minutes.
Meet the students involved in the campaign and why this project is important to them.
Hi everyone, I’m Alex, I live in London and I’m a Talent athlete on Goalball UK’s High Performance Programme. As an athlete who has seen and overcome many barriers within sport, I want to be an ambassador and inspiration to make sports more inclusive for all.
During my time within Goalball and exploring other visually impaired / blind sports, I’ve seen friends and teammates miss out on the opportunity to represent their country and continue on their journey to becoming an Elite athlete. Therefore, #BreakingBarriersInSport have created a petition to make change for future generations so that those who are classified B4 or B5 have the chance to represent their country Internationally. I am determined to make sport more accessible within Paralympic sports.
Join me in making sports inclusive for all athletes!
Hi, I’m Tom, as a dedicated cyclist and aspiring Paralympic athlete, I am passionate about promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities in visually impaired sports. Living with severe visual impairment, I know the profound impact sports can have on mental health, physical wellbeing, and community. I’m proud to support the Breaking Barriers in Sport campaign which advocates for the inclusion of B4 and B5 athletes in international competitions.
This reform is essential for ensuring fair competition and equal opportunities for all VI athletes. By expanding the classification system, we can enhance competition, provide more opportunities, and raise awareness about the diversity of visual impairments. #BreakingBarriersInSport
By expanding the classification system, we can create more inclusive sports environments, allowing a broader range of athletes with visual impairments to participate and showcase their talents.
Inclusion of B4 and B5 athletes would lead to more robust competition, encouraging all athletes to push their boundaries and excel. This could ultimately raise the level of para-sports and attract a larger audience.
Many B4 and B5 athletes currently have limited competitive opportunities. Opening the classification system to them would provide a clear pathway to national and international competitions, giving them a chance to pursue their athletic dreams.
Expanding the classification system would also raise awareness about the diversity of vision impairments and the need for adaptive sports. This could lead to increased support and recognition for para-sports.
The Breaking Barriers in Sport Young Voices group have joined forces with Goalball UK’s Youth Forum to create a two-page digital or printable handy guide for any P.E. teachers or Sports Staff who work with blind and partially sighted (BPS) students at secondary school or college.
Their aim is to ensure all BPS students have equal access to physical activity at school, so they came up with eight top tips based on their experiences. We’ve also included some additional links if you wanted to find out more information such as a whole scheme of work and lesson plans for teaching Goalball, links to VI-specific equipment and even more tips and tricks for making your lessons as inclusive and accessible as possible!
Get the Eight Top Tips Guide in Word format here.
Get the Eight Top Tips guide in PDF format here.
If you’d like to hear more about the campaign, how you can support or get involved, or how you have used our top tips, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch by sending us an email to BreakingBarriersInSport@pocklington.org.uk
Find out more about our Young Voices project to make retail more accessible for blind and partially sighted people, in this blog written by Samih one of our volunteers!
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This online community is for blind and partially sighted students, family and friends, education providers and other staff in the sector. It forms a supportive environment where relevant news, advice, questions and pieces of work can be shared to enable students with visual impairments to get the most out of their time at university.
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