Sports

Goalball (Sports Pavilion (FSP))

Goalball is an exclusively Paralympic sport. It is a team sport in which only blind athletes and athletes with vision impairment can participate.
Goalball is played by both men and women athletes. Each team consists of three players with a maximum of three substitutes. The objective of the game is for each team to roll the ball, with their hands to the opposite side and score a goal, while the opposing players try to block the ball with any part of their body. The winner is the team that scores the most goals. A game is played in two halves of 10 minutes each.
During the Athens Paralympic Games, Goalball competition events will take place within seven days (from 20 to 26 September 2004). Athens will host 12 men's and 8 women's Goalball teams.

Judo (Ano Liossia Olympic Hall (LIH))

The athletes are blind or vision-impaired. A main referee and two more judges arbitrate a Judo contest. The main referee calls all points and penalties while performing the designated hand gestures. The referee gives the signal for the beginning of the match after the two athletes have come into contact. To win the contest immediately a judoka must score an Ippon (a degree equalling 10 points) by using a successful technique. If none of the judokas completes an Ippon by the end of the game, the winner is the one to have scored the greatest value point. During the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games, Judo competition events will take place between 18-20 September 2004. A total of 120 Judo athletes, 84 men and 36 women will compete in the Athens Paralympic Games.

Powerlifting (Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall (NIH))

In Powerlifting, men and women athletes compete in a horizontal lying position (on their back) on a specially designed bench. An athlete's official assistants give the bar to the competitor at the level of his or her outstretched arms. The athlete must complete his or her attempt within two minutes, through the following moves: lower the bar to the chest, hold it immobile for a short period, and then lift it upwardsuntil the arms are fully stretched.
Men and women are competing in specific categories, according to their body weight.
Powerlifting competitions during the Athens Paralympic Games will be completed over seven days, from 20 to 27 September 2004, with a rest day in 23 September 2004.

Sailing (Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre (AGK))

Sailing has some of the most enthusiastic supporters worldwide. It is also one of the very few sports in which age does not play a significant role. Athletes with partly or total vision loss and athletes with a physical disability compete in the Paralympic Games. Sailing events take place on waterways, delineated by buoys. These waterways define the courses that competitors have to complete. During the Paralympics Sailing events, athletes compete in Sonar and 2.4mR classes. Competitors face not only their opponents, but also the unpredictability of nature. Sailing during the Athens Paralympic Games will take place from 18 to 23 September 2004.

.:: © 2004 OTE S.A. All rights reserved ::.