The Life & Sunshine Pavilion held a special football game in the volunteer square at 10am, August 27. Liaoning Blind Football Team and Shanghai Blind Football Team are the leading players.

As the game is played by visually impaired athletes, it uses a special ball with an iron piece inserted into it to make noise as the ball moves. Zhang Benzheng, a blind football athlete, said that they actually are playing “listening football.” They judge the position of the football from the sound it emits.

Zhang started to play football five years ago when he was 12 years old. He is proud to play football at the World Expo. Another blind football athlete, Gao Bin, said he made a lot of friends from playing football and felt very happy.

Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee, kicked off the game. The Shanghai team scored a goal first, then the Liaoning team. Finally, the game ended in a 2-2 draw. Spectators gave them warm applause.

When Philip Craven learned that there were eight blind football teams in China, he was satisfied and spoke highly of it. He shook hands with the athletes, hoping to meet them in London when the Paralympic Games are held in 2012.

Jia Yong, Vice President of the National Paralympic Committee of China, also watched the game.

Source: expo2010.cn

Editor: Xu Xinlei