Visually impaired archery - the mere wording is likely to leave those not in the know with a mixture of intrigue and confusion.
How can such a concept can be organised safely and effectively? How can the athletes involved execute with the required precision and accuracy? People ignorant to such realities however, could do worse then spend a few minutes in the company of Clive Jones.
This month, he'll compete in the B1 category of the IBSA World Games 2023 in Birmingham. Taking place from August 18-27, the University of Birmingham and other regional venues will host more than 1,250 competitors from 70 nations compete in 10 sports – but the potential legacy promises a significantly greater impact than any bare statistics.
Jones, 48, will take aim for glory, quite literally, in the B1 category - essentially for those completely blind. And speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport, the current world No 6 outlined how his own route to elite competition begun 23 years ago in harrowing circumstances, proceeded by an abundance of courage.
"I’m ex-Army, blinded while serving back in 2000," he explained. "I went to a charity called Blind Veterans UK, and they basically taught me how to shoot archery. It was initially quite fun to be honest, but it became very addictive.
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“Sadly due to injury I gave up the sport in 2013 but missed it every day, so came back in 2018 after the injury had healed and yeah, it’s brilliant. So I effectively owe my archery to Blind Veterans UK. It’s my sport. "
Outlining his personal ambitions for the landmark occasion, which also serves as qualifying event for the 2024 Paralympics, Jones was candid: “I’d like to get on the podium. But I know there are a lot of excellent archers coming from across the world. As long as I shoot well and get personal bests I’ll be happy, but a podium place is what I'm after."
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Goalball will form part of the gamesHe'll be nothing if not prepared. This summer, Jones has already competed in the World Championships in the Czech Republic, and will arrive in Birmingham straight from Rotterdam this week where he's taking part in the European Championships. Those events have been the culmination of an intense period of training, a necessity the Newport man conceded he'd be "silly" not to embrace ahead of such a pivotal occasion.
But not just for him. The 10 days in Birmingham will represent the fist time the UK has held the Games, a factor that could only serve to raise awareness and encourage others with visual impairments: "It’s nice to have it in the UK for the first time," he continued. "It will showcase what blind sport and blind athletes can do. It’s a fantastic opportunity to show that."
Asked if it will boost numbers in his own activity, let alone other disability sports, there was little hesitation with the answer: “Absolutely. We are always looking for blind or visually impaired sportsmen and women, especially within archery. They’ll be athletes coming from around the world, it will be showcased very, very, well. With regards to promoting it, I couldn’t think of anywhere better to have it than Birmingham.”
Jones rightfully lauds the benefits of archery, and his advice to those in a similar position to himself: “Isolation can be a problem for the visually impaired. But if they know friends are doing a sport they too can enjoy, suddenly it’s a fantastic opportunity to have."
And his advice to those in a similar position to him represents a simple, and yet inspiring message: "They do a lot of 'have a go' days around the country," he revealed. "Find your nearest one, apply, and go and have a go. You never know what archery or any other sport is like until you do. I thought initially, a blind man with a bow and arrow….well yeah, but I've loved it ever since.
“Just because you’re blind doesn't mean you can't shoot a bow and arrow. We work with a set of foot markers, and sights on the back of the hand, its phenomenal. The sport is so inclusive, whether you’re blind, in a wheelchair, I mean I've just come back from the Czech Republic and there were archers with no arms. Amazing."
He also hopes the event in Birmingham will also prove amazing. The opening ceremony at the Symphony Hall on August 18 will be headlined by the world’s only professional group of blind musicians, the Inner Vision Orchestra. And aside from archery - chess, cricket, football, goalball and tennis will be amongst the sports included.
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And come August 27, Jones hopes that legacy would have been created that goes way beyond his own personal involvement. He wants the Games to have a wide-reaching impact.
“Inclusiveness," he replied, when asked about the potential benefits. "Showing visually impaired and blind people that you can be a part of this. You can do sport. You can get yourself out there. It will see sport in general held in a different light, that will be the most beneficial thing."
Great Britain men's goalball play their first game on Sunday August 20 against Egypt at 5pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena, and tickets are available at https://www.ibsagames2023.co.uk/tickets. Goalball is one of the three ticketed events (alongside men’s blind football and judo) and the rest are free and unticketed, more information here.
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