FORT WAYNE, IN - Fort Wayne is excited to welcome the United States Association of Blind Athletes for their 2017 Goalball National Championship, hosted at Turnstone from June 22nd-24th. This is the 2nd year that the championship has taken place in Fort Wayne.

An intense sport that is combination of bowling, soccer, and dodgeball, goalball is a physical activity designed for blind and visually impaired athletes. The objective is to score a goal in the other team's net by throwing or rolling a bell-embedded, basketball sized ball. Participants, competing in teams of 3, use the bells to judge the position of the ball and heavy strings to understand the layout of the court. All athletes wear eye patches and blindfolds to ensure all visually impaired participants have no advantage over another.

The general public is invited to attend all matches, free of charge.

Turnstone is also home to the Center for Excellence Goalball Resident Program where the US Men's Paralympic Goalball Team, where athletes live and train for Paralympic Games and international competitions.

For more information contact:
Kenna Davis, Turnstone, kenna@turnstone.org, (260) 969-7669
Kristen Guthrie, Visit Fort Wayne, (260) 424-3700

Visit Fort Wayne is the official destination marketing organization for Fort Wayne and Allen County. Each year, over 5.8 million people visit Fort Wayne and generate $576 million in direct economic impact.

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Media Contact:
Kristen Guthrie
Marketing Director
(260) 424-3700
kristen@visitfortwayne.com