Blind 2010 provides disability football boost

The IBSA World Blind Football Championship kicks off at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford, England on 14 August and promises to be the perfect showcase for the best blind footballers from across the globe.

Blind 2010, organised by blind football's world governing body, the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA), is held every two years. The 2010 edition will be the first time England has hosted the tournament and promises to be the biggest disability football event ever staged in the country.

"The work of our partners locally has laid down the foundations to promote awareness about not just blind football but also pan-disability football," tournament director Jon Dutton told UEFA.com. "We now hope to extend this message across Europe and even further afield. Blind 2010 is integral to the ongoing development at both a grassroots and elite level for disability football in England and we're sure the event will act as a catalyst for similar growth across the world."

Qualification for Blind 2010 was completed when China won the Asian Championship in December. Hosts England will compete with Spain, Colombia, Japan and Korea Republic for one of the two semi-final qualifying berths from Group A. Group B consists of Argentina, France, Brazil, China and African wild-card entrants Cameroon.

The third-placed side from each section will compete after the group stage to determine the fifth and sixth-placed sides, as will the teams that finish fourth and fifth in each pool in order to decide a final placing for all ten countries. The final takes place on 22 August.

Blind 2010 will also act as a direct qualifier for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, but it is what it means to those involved that makes the tournament so special. "As a qualifier for the 2012 Paralympics it is essential that as well as delivering a great event the championship leaves a lasting legacy," added Dutton.