Rio 2016 Apps

Enhance your Games experience.

Download
Close Search
Who are you cheering on?

Who are you cheering on?

Choose your favorite athletes, teams, sports and countries by clicking on the buttons next to their names

Check out some suggestions based on your location:

Expand Content

    Check out your list of favourites. To add or remove, just click on the star

    Expand Content
      Expand Content
        Expand Content
          Expand Content

            Note: Your favourites settings are stored on your computer through Cookies If you want to keep them, refrain from clearing your browser history

            Please set your preferences

            Please check your preferences. You can change them at any time

            Expand Content
            Expand Content

            This time zone applies to all schedule times

            Expand Content
            Contrast
            Original colours Original colours High contrast High contrast
            View all acessibility resources
            Or
            A new world

            Goalball

            Buy Tickets Here
            Future Arena
            A sport that was devised to help rehabilitate war veterans, goalball is played by visually impaired athletes, who use blackout masks to ensure equality. Part of the Games since Toronto 1976, in Rio 10 men’s and 10 women’s teams will compete for glory.
            Spectator's Guide - Goalball
            • Goalball

            About

            About

            Aim of the game

            Two teams of three players wearing eyeshades try to score points by throwing a ball with bells inside at high speed into their opponent's goal at the other end of the court

            Why should you watch this?

            Agility, skill and courage are essential as athletes alternate between offensive and defensive moves, throwing or blocking a ball that weighs 1.25kg and reaches speeds of nearly 100kph

            Venues

            Future Arena

            International Federation

            IBSA

            Paralympic debut

            Toronto 1976

            Rules
            • High ball

              High ball

              A penalty is awarded if the throwing player releases the ball and it hits the court beyond their high-ball line

            • Long ball

              Long ball

              A penalty is awarded if the ball does not make contact at least once inside the middle area before it reaches the opponent's side

            • Short ball

              Short ball

              A penalty is awarded if the force of the thrown ball is insufficient to reach the opponent's defensive area

            Impress your friends

            • Goalball was developed in Germany in 1946 by Austrian Hanz Lorenzen and German Sepp Reindle as an activity for the rehabilitation of war veterans

              Goalball was developed in Germany in 1946 by Austrian Hanz Lorenzen and German Sepp Reindle as an activity for the rehabilitation of war veterans

            • Goalball made its international debut as a demonstration sport during the Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games

              Goalball made its international debut as a demonstration sport during the Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games

            • It became a Paralympic Games medal event for men at Toronto 1976, with the women's event being added for the New York / Stoke Mandeville 1984 Games

              It became a Paralympic Games medal event for men at Toronto 1976, with the women's event being added for the New York / Stoke Mandeville 1984 Games

            • The Chinese men's team made its Paralympic Games debut at Beijing 2008, where they eliminated favourites Finland and the USA, before beating Lithuania in the final

              The Chinese men's team made its Paralympic Games debut at Beijing 2008, where they eliminated favourites Finland and the USA, before beating Lithuania in the final

            • Also at Beijing 2008, the USA women's team beat China 6-5 in a memorable final to take their second Paralympic gold medal, 24 years after their first title

              Also at Beijing 2008, the USA women's team beat China 6-5 in a memorable final to take their second Paralympic gold medal, 24 years after their first title

            • Brazil won the men's 2014 world championship and had the tournament's top two goal-scorers: Leomon Silva (51) and Romario Marques (30)

              Brazil won the men's 2014 world championship and had the tournament's top two goal-scorers: Leomon Silva (51) and Romario Marques (30)

            • In the women's 2014 world championship, favourites USA beat Russia 3-0 in the final to make up for failing to win a medal at London 2012

              In the women's 2014 world championship, favourites USA beat Russia 3-0 in the final to make up for failing to win a medal at London 2012

            • As goalball players need to hear both the ball and the referee, spectators must be quiet, except during the interval and, of course, when a goal is scored

              As goalball players need to hear both the ball and the referee, spectators must be quiet, except during the interval and, of course, when a goal is scored

            • Goalball is a rarity in that it was designed specifically for visually impaired athletes rather than being adapted from an Olympic sport

              Goalball is a rarity in that it was designed specifically for visually impaired athletes rather than being adapted from an Olympic sport

            Scoring

            A game consists of two 12-minute halves, with a three-minute half-time. The team with the most goals at the end of the match wins. If a team opens up a lead of 10 goals the match ends immediately.

            Not allowed

            Each team consists of three players who attack and defend. Teams are not allowed inside their opponents' area.

            Attack

            Each team has 10 seconds to conclude the offensive action – when a player throws the ball in the direction of their opponents' goal, it must make contact with the ground in their own and the middle part of the court.

            Defence

            Defenders can lie on the floor and try to block the entire goal, within a restricted area defined by tactile lines.

            Penalty

            If a team commits any infraction that results in a penalty situation, a single defends the entire goal for one throw.

            Officials

            In addition to refereeing, officials also narrate the game, using verbal commands to describe to the players what is happening.

            Stats

            Top Medalists

            Men
            USA
            USA             		1 2 1 4
            FIN
            FIN             		2 1 0 3
            DEN
            DEN             		2 0 1 3
            Women
            USA
            USA             		2 2 1 5
            CAN
            CAN             		2 1 2 5
            DEN
            DEN             		1 1 2 4

            Sports

            Favourites

            You have not set any sport as a favourite

            Suggestions:

            Images

            'Talent has never been so high' as Paralympic superstar swimmers prepare to dive in at Rio 2016 (Rio 2016)

            Full Coverage

            Guide

            Watch the Games

            Have Fun

            Road to Rio