2008 Beijing Paralympic Games...

Video Highlights on CBC.ca

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/paralympics/archive/

Canadian Men Win Their Final Match :  Both Goalball Teams Finish 5th

September 14th 2008 – Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’sGoalball Team beat Denmark in their final game of the 2008 BeijingParalympics 8 – 5 earning 5th place in the process.  After being eliminated from medal contention in the quarter-finals by eventual silver medalist Lithuania, the men could finish as high as 5th and they succeeded by beating Finland and Denmark in two straight games.  Mario Caron scored 4 goals while Bruno Haché and Rob Christy each had a pair, and the men improve Canada’s world ranking from 6th to 5th with the victory.

In the men’s finals host China won the gold medal by edging out Lithuania  9 – 8, while Sweden won the bronze medal by beating the USA 5 – 2.  On the women’s side, the Americans upset the previously undefeated Chinese team 6 – 5 to win the gold medal, while Denmark beat Sweden 3 – 2 to win the bronze.  The Canadian women were 5th.

Canadian Blind Sports is proud of our world-class Goalball Teams.

Back to their Winning Ways : Canadian Men’s Goalball Team Beats Finland

September 13th 2008 (Beijing, China) – Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic  Men’s Goalball Team beat Finland  6 – 5  this morning and will now face Denmark  to determine places 5 – 6 tonight at midnight EST (9:00 PST).  As always Jeff Christy started at center, while Bruno Haché played his first full game of the tournament and scored 2 goals, and Mario Caron continued to add to his impressive goal total scoring the other 4 making it 27 in this year’s games.

In other men’s news Lithuania beat Sweden 10 – 3 and China beat the USA 4 – 0 to set up a gold medal match between the two most dominant teams of the tournament.

Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Women’s Goalball Team Falls to Undefeated China

September 12th 2008 – Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Women’s Goalball Team let in 1 goal late in the first half, and it would turn out to be the game-winner as host team China finished the preliminary action with an unblemished record as they beat Canada 1 - 0.  The narrow loss means that despite only losing 2 out of 7 preliminary games, the disappointed Canadian squad will finish 5th in the 2008 Paralympics as China, Denmark, the USA, and Sweden will advance to the semi-finals.

The Canadian Women posted a 2-2-3 record, with both of their losses being decided by a single goal.  International Women’s Goalball has evolved greatly over the last four years, with the 6 of the 8 teams in the Beijing field having a legitimate shot at the semi-finals.  It was so close that had the Canadian Women tied China, they would have forced a playoff match with Sweden for the 4th and final spot in the semi-finals, and had they won outright they would have qualified for the next round.

The Chinese Women’s Goalball team burst onto the international scene by unexpectedly winning the silver medal at the 2006 World Championships.  Both the Chinese Men’s and Women’s Goalball teams live and train together full-time, and have demonstrated the incredible effect that it has, as neither team had ever been to a Paralympics prior to this year and they are both among the top ranked teams projected to medal at this year’s Games.

While the unexpectedly early end of the 2008 Paralympic campaign is surely disappointing to the athletes and all involved, Canadian Blind Sports is proud of the way our Paralympic Women’s Goalball Team, coaches, and support staff represented Canada and themselves.  There were many highlights from this event including stellar performances by younger athletes who will be a part of the team for years to come, as well as veteran leadership from key players who have had so much success for Canada and continue to demonstrate why they are among the elite Goalball athletes on the planet.

While Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic women’s Goalball Team exit the 2008 Games without their usual Gold Medal, Canadian Blind Sports is confident that with increased sport science and professionalized training programs our Women will be right back at the top of the newly extremely competitive International Women’s Goalball scene.   

Congratulations to our Paralympian athletes, coaches, and mission staff, and a profound thank you to all who assisted them get to where they are today.

Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Women’s Goalball Team Draws USA 1 -1

September 11th, 2008 – For the second straight game Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Women’s Goalball Team has tied their opponents in a thrilling match-up, this time drawing Team USA 1-1.  Women’s Goalball is unbelievably tight at the 2008 Paralympics with 6 of the 8 teams in the tournament having a legitimate shot at the coveted 4 semi-finalberths.

Nancy Morin scored Canada’s goal bringing her scoring streak to 6straight, and both center Amy Alsop and her American counterpart Lisa Banta made 44 saves apiece in this defensive exhibition.  Undefeated in their last 4 games, with the draw the Canadian Women are 2-1-3 for 9 points and remain in the thick of the race toqualify for the quarter-finals.

In men’s action China beat Finland to advance to the semi-finals meaning that Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Goalball Team will face Finland in their first game of the classification round for places 5 – 8 at 6:00 EST on Saturday morning (3:00 PST).

Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Goalball Team Falls in Quarter-Finals to World Champions

September 11th 2008 – Lithuania, the reigning 2006 World Champions in men’s Goalball, cruised to a 10 – 0 victory over the Canadian Men in quarter-final action.  The Canadians seem to have run out of steam after starting the 2008 Paralympics by winning their first 2 games.  Canada conceded 6 penalties and their opponents made no mistakes scoring on all 6 attempts.  The Lithuanians were the favorites to win Paralympic Men’s Goalball heading into the games and the loss means that the Canadian men can no longer reach their goal of medaling.  But, by qualifying for the quarter-finals the men have secured a top 8 finish and will play 2 more games to determine where they rank between 5th and 8th.

In men’s action China beat Finland to advance to the semi-finals meaning that Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Goalball Team will face Finland in their first game of the classification round for places 5 – 8 at 6:00 EST on Saturday morning (3:00 PST).

Regardless where the Canadian Men’s Goalball Team places, Canadian Blind Sports is proud of the effort and determination of the veteran men as they overcame much adversity over the last year and qualified for the quarter-finals despite the major obstacles in their way.

Congratulations to the Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Goalball Team on representing themselves and Canada well in Beijing.

Paralympic Goalball: Day 5 Update

Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Women’s Goalball Team Draws Denmark 2 -2

September 11th 2008 – Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Women’s Goalball Team played Denmark to a 2 – 2 draw this morning.  Nancy Morin scored for the 5th consecutive game while Annette Lisabeth added the other point, and Amy Alsop stopped 48 of 68 shots from centre.  The Canadian Women knew it would be a tough match having lost to Denmark in the gold medal game at the 2008 “Bound for Beijing” Lakeshore Classic in August, so the tie is an improvement on their last outing against the Danes.

With the draw the Canadian Women now sit at 2 -1 -2 for a total of 8 points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss), and are currently fourth in a very tight race to qualify for the semi-finals. The two teams immediately ahead of Canada are Denmark and the USA who both have 10 points, while the two teams immediately behind them are Brazil and Sweden who each have 7. With only two games remaining it seems unlikely that anyone will catch undefeated China who have 15 points.  Only the top four teams move on to Friday night’s semi-finals meaning that Denmark, the USA, Canada, Brazil, and Sweden will all be battling it out for the remaining 3 spots. 

Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Team to Face Lithuania in the Quarter-Finals

The Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Goalball team received the help they needed as Sweden beat the US meaning that Canada will qualify in the 3rd seed of pool B.  Iran upset the previously undefeated Chinese squad by a score of 8 – 6, although the Chinese played all 6 of their players almost evenly throughout the penalty filled affair.  With Iran’s win Canada, the US, and Iran all finish at 2 – 3 in pool B for 6 points, however the tie-breaking procedure is determined by how the teams fared against one another, so the Canadians will take the 3rd seed as they beat both the US and Iran, and the US will take the fourth seed as they also beat Iran who will not qualify.

The Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Goalball Team has a tough test ahead in their  quarter-final match-up against Lithuania who were edged out for the number 1 seed in Pool A 7-6 by Slovenia.   The match takes place at 23:00 EST (20:00 PST) TONIGHT Thursday September 11th, and it should prove to be a thrilling match as for the first time in the 2008 Paralympics the team’s will be playing to advance and will surely leave nothing behind as they attempt to qualify for the semis.

Canadian Men Fall to Brazil: Preliminary Round Over Men Advance to Quarter-Finals

September 10th – Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Goalball Team fell to Brazil by a score of 6 – 3 in their final preliminary matchup.  Going into the game the team knew that they had qualified for the quarter-finals win or lose, however because of the loss if the USA is able to beat Sweden in their final preliminary game Thursday morning [5:00 EST / 2:00 PST] , the US will leapfrog the Canadian men into 3rd spot in Pool B and the Canadians would finish 4th.

Mario Caron was once again dynamite on offence scoring all 3 goals bringing his tournament total to 23.  Caron and Jeff Christy played every minute of the game, while Rob Christy and Bruno Haché split time on right wing.

Depending on the results of two games today (Lithuania vs Slovenia / Sweden vs USA), Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Goalball Team will either play Lithuania or Slovenia in the quarter-finals on Thursday night in Canada between 21:00 and 23:00 EST (18:00 and 21:00 PST).

Paralympic Goalball: Day 4 Update

Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Team Loses Heartbreaker to Sweden: Will Qualify for Quarter-Finals

September 10th - Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men's Goalball Team lost a heart-breaker this morning falling just short to #2 ranked Sweden by a score of 6 -5 .  Mario Caron and Rob Christy each had an even strength goal, and Caron added three more penalty markers giving him an astounding 21 goals in the first 4 games of the tournament. 

The Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men’s Goalball Team are now 2 – 2 as they prepare to face Team Brazil in their final game of preliminary action tonight at 22:00 hrs EST (19:00 PST).  They control their own destiny as a win over Brazil guarantees them the third spot in pool B meaning they will play the loser of Lithuania vs Slovenia in the quarterfinals on Thursday night (Canadian time). 

Canadian Women Blank Germany 1 - 0

September 9th - Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Women's Goalball Team continued their winning ways by beating Germany 1 - 0 in a defensive exhibition and are now 2-1-1.  Saskatoon's Amy Alsop showed why she is recognized as one of the top Goalball players on the planet by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) turning aside an unbelievable 56 of 68 shots en route to the shutout. Montreal's Nancy Morin scored Canada's goal meaning she has now scored in all four games of the tournament and will be looking to keep her goal streak alive as the Canadian Women move through the tournament.

Next up the Canadian Women will face Denmark looking to avenge their loss in the Gold medal match of the 2008 Bound for Beijing Lakeshore Classic in August.

Scoresheet Canada 1 - Germany 0

Paralympic Goalball: Day 3 Update

September 8th - Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men's Goalball Team had their fist setback of the tournament falling to host China 11 - 2.  Mario Caron scored for the third straight game while Bruno Haché got into his first game and scored the other goal.

Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Women's Team had a better result blanking Japan 3 - 0, while Contessa Scott scored a pair and Nancy Morin scored for the third straight game.  Head Coach Janice Dawson started Amy Kneebone at center and she rose to the challenge turning aside 42 of Japan's 68 shots and being named first star of the game by those listening to Bill Teale's live audio play-by-play at http://beijing.sports.pressakey.net.

Scoresheet Canadian Men 2 - China 11

Scoresheet Canadian Women 3 - Japan 2

Paralympic Goalball: Day 2 Update

September 8th - Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Goalball Teams went 1 - 1 on day 2 of the tournament, the Canadian Men's Team beat Team USA 8 - 2, while the women were edged out by Brazil 6 - 5.  Mario Caron continues to dominate in men's action scoring 3 even strength goals and 4 penalties, while Rob Christy also scored for the second straight game.  On the women's side, Nancy Morin scored all 5 goals as the team fell just short.

More details to follow.

Scoresheet Canadian Men 8 - USA 2

Scoresheet Canadian Women 5 - Brazil 6

Paralympic Goalball: Day 1 Update

September 7th - Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Goalball Teams are unbeaten after day 1 of competition.

Paralympic Update - Day 1

Men use big offence to power through Iran

September 7th - Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Men's Goalball Team is 1 - 0 after beating Iran 9 - 5 in their first preliminary match.  Mario Caron showed why he is the all-time leading Paralympic goal scorer pumping in 8 goals, while Rob Christy scored the other.

Scoresheet

BIG COMEBACK!

September 6th - Canadian Blind Sports Paralympic Women's Goalball Team erased a 3 - 1 deficit midway through the second half to draw Sweden 3 - 3 in their first preliminary game.  Annett Lisabeth, Amy Alsop, and Nancy Morin all notched a goal in the effort, while Alsop made an astounding 37 blocks.

Scoresheet

2008 Paralympics Set to Begin!

September 5th -Goalball Teams and other Canadian Athletes who are blind / visually impaired and looking to make a big impact...

Canadian Blind Sports Release  

Donovan Tildesley Named Canadian Flag Bearer!

September 4th - Long-time BC Blind Sports member, swimmer Donovan Tildesley has been named Canada's Flag Bearer for the 2008 Paralympic Games!

READ SWIMMING CANADA'S RELEASE

Article on CBC.ca...

Article on tsn.ca ....

More info on the Paralympics, Canada's athlete's who are visually impaired or blind, Canada's Goalball Teams, as well as a full competition and broadcast schedule coming soon...