we went to listen to goalball, this silent sport where everything is played out by noise – Libération

A discipline that has no equivalent at the Olympics, goalball is reserved for the visually impaired. On the field, players find their way by sounds and teams use a variety of tactics to disrupt their opponents.

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Attending a goalball match (a sport that is a cross between handball and bowling) is like taking part in a giant game of “king of silence”. The rules are simple, and are repeated repeatedly to supporters: simply be quiet during the game, which is 90% of the time. While in all other venues, the speakers encourage spectators to shout themselves hoarse, here, in Hall 6 of the Porte de Versailles exhibition center, the public tries their hand at the “shush cam”. Concept: when your face appears on a giant screen, you have to put your index finger over your mouth and not make the slightest noise. In case you missed the news, volunteers are constantly waving signs that say: “Quiet please.” And the referees add another layer by dropping «quiet please» about 300 times per game.

This injunction to silence is necessary: ​​in goalball, everything is a question of noise. The players, three on each side, are all visually impaired. They only find their way around by the sound of a ball filled with bells that