Seven years ago, a group of people from Antofagasta wanted to try their luck in an adapted sport for the visually impaired. After a couple of months practicing, they realized that they had a passion for the game, but no opponents to be able to generate a competition in the region. This is how the Halcones del Norte Sports Club was born, a sports organization that was created in 2017 where 17 people between the ages of 27 and 60 currently participate.
Goalball is the only Paralympic sport for the blind and visually impaired. It is played with teams of six people, which are distributed as follows: three on the court and three on the bench. The objective of the game is to score goals against the other team using a ball with three bells inside that weigh more than two kilos in total.
“It’s my passion. Within the club we support each other, which has led us to a commonwealth in which we have become one of the hardest to beat on the field, being what makes me most proud to be part of this team,” says Eliseo Rojas, an athlete of the club.
From 2015 to 2023, the club has managed to take second place in a national competition held in Viña del Mar. At the regional level, they have been present at the Paralympic Games in Antofagasta, achieving first place in the women’s and men’s competitions.
In 2022 they decided to apply to Impulso Deportivo, a program that supports non-profit organizations and athletes who need a boost to achieve their goals and continue with their activities, and the organization from Norta was awarded one million pesos for the purchase of sports apparel corresponding to balls and goggles.
Jaime Pizarro, director of the Sports area of the Luksic Foundation, explained the relevance of Paralympic sports in our country. “In sport there are no limits or anything that can defeat you. For this reason, we believe that supporting and boosting adapted sports organizations allows them to continue empowering their talent and encourages them to continue.”
“We are currently preparing for a new competition date to be held in May, where we will receive athletes from Iquique and referees from Valparaíso,” comments Luis Alberto Hidalgo, representative of the Halcones del Norte Sports Club.
The Impulso Deportivo program is open for applications throughout the year, allowing both individual athletes and sports organizations to access support to strengthen their sports activities and goals. The application form is available at https://fundacionluksic.cl/impulso-deportivo/.
