General
Source: ParaSport News
Blind cricket has largely been the exclusive domain of men. In the past year, this has begun to change, and this month, organizers in South Africa are looking to start a women's blind cricket program.
A first of its kind training session has been scheduled for January 18 at the Pretoria Transnet Blind Cricket Club starting at 9:00 AM local time.The event is being organized by Theresa Robberts, who was involved with one of the first women's blind cricket teams in the world in the United Kingdom. As part of the 2012 Summer Paralympics festivities, she and her team carried the Paralympic torch.
Proponents of the sport in South Africa have been busy. Last month, they hosted the 2014 Blind Cricket World Cup. Blind Cricket South Africa (BCSA) also lodged complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission, alleging inequality in regards to the differences in support provided for the sighted team compared to the visually impaired national team. BCSA President Francois Neethling was quoted in a press release as saying, "The Bill of Rights, enshrined within the Constitution, refers to the right to equality and the full enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. Along with the UNCRPD, the White Paper on Sport and Recreation identifies the responsibility of sport and recreation providers and the need to ensure equality and focus on the development of persons with disabilities."