3rd March 2020, NCBI is delighted to announce it has formally merged with Vision Sports Ireland a body dedicated to the promotion of sports and leisure activities for those who are blind or vision impaired. This move ensures greater availability of such activities to all those using NCBI services as well as widening the scope of the sports and leisure services on offer.
Chris White, NCBI CEO said “Already Vision Sports Ireland offer a wide range of sports including blind/ vision impaired football, golf, tennis, tandem cycling and swimming. They are also already affiliated with the various governing bodies in these sports. This merger is a really progressive step for NCBI as it will mean greater participation by people who are blind or visually impaired in such activities across the country. This in turn will create a positive health impact and social benefits for the participants”.
Jason Smyth, Board Member of Vision Sports and 20 international gold medalist (including 5 Paralympian gold medals) said “Vision Sports has continuously encouraged and supported me as an athlete. It is an excellent organisation continuously working to introduce and encourage people who are blind or visually impaired to different sports and give them the confidence to try something new. To know more blind or visually impaired people could benefit from their work through this merger is really heartening for me”.
Vision Sports Ireland, which is primarily funded by Sports Ireland, relies on its network of volunteers to assist run its key events such as May Fest and Inclusion Games. These successful events provide an opportunity for blind or visually impaired people of any age to try out new sports and for their sighted peers to learn how games can be adapted to be more inclusive to the needs of participants with a visual impairment.
