Third Annual USABA National Blind Sports Day Expands To Week of Virtual Activities in 2020

September 23, 2020

(Sept. 23, 2020) — Join the United States Association of Blind Athletes for National Blind Sports Week (Sept. 28-Oct. 3), a six-day virtual experience focused on participation and awareness of sports and opportunities available to athletes who are blind and visually impaired. The week culminates with the 3rd annual National Blind Sports Day on Saturday, Oct. 3.

National Blind Sports Week celebrates the abilities of, and opportunities available to, Americans with visual impairments and increases awareness of sports for the blind. This year, to bring our members the best resources within the blindness community, USABA will also be partnering with other national blindness organizations for our virtual programming experience.

Each day during the week USABA will host virtual webinars and Facebook Live experiences for athletes who are blind and visually impaired as well as their family, friends and sighted guides. Topics will be focused on sports and resources ranging from goalball to soccer and more, and presenters will be experts in their field, including national blindness organizations and Paralympic medalists from a wide variety of sports.

The opening-day live programming on Monday, Sept. 28, includes a talk by Jake Olson who made history in 2017 when he became the first completely blind person to play in a Division I college football game as a long snapper for the University of Southern California. Olson will also host a question-and-answer session at the end of his presentation.

Then, on National Blind Sports Day on Saturday, Oct. 3, USABA and partnering organizations across the U.S. will host both virtual and, if safe, in-person experiences.

“Now entering the third year of this fantastic event, we are excited to expand the rich and rewarding experience of National Blind Sports Day to an entire week of immersive activities,” said USABA CEO Molly Quinn. “Recognizing that this year is like no other before it, we have put together an amazing schedule of virtual experiences with world-class athletes, coaches and organizations. There will be something for everybody to get involved with during the week-long celebration.”

For the past two years, USABA has hosted National Blind Sports Day at sites across the United States with 1,360 individuals across 68 events exposed to and involved in blind sports programs. Sport and fitness have the power to provide people who are blind and visually impaired with the framework to set goals, build a work ethic and live a healthier lifestyle.

For more information on how to participate in National Blind Sports Week, either as an event host or as a participant, please contact USABA Programs Manager Cat Bouwkamp at cbouwkamp@usaba.org or (719) 866-3210, or visit https://www.usaba.org/blindsportsday/.