A spectacular but still relatively unknown sport, torball was in the spotlight on Saturday, April 25, at the Albert Malatesta sports complex in Nice. For its 16th edition, the international tournament organized by ANICES brought together several European teams who share a common passion: a demanding, strategic parasport that offers numerous benefits to its practitioners.
Nice, Turin, Mons, Zurich, Teramo, Hasselt… Eight European teams faced off at the international torball tournament held in Nice. In the stands, the few spectators discover a discipline where every move is guided by sound.
Everyone on an equal footing
In the gymnasium of the Albert Malatesta sports complex, the silence is almost total. In the stands, several signs urge the public to remain silent. This is essential: in torball, everything depends on hearing.
This parasport discipline is practiced by both visually impaired and sighted people, who wear opaque goggles to ensure equality among all players. On the field, two teams of three players compete by rolling a sound ball, containing a bell, under three strings stretched across the middle of the field. The objective is simple: to send the ball along the ground past the opponent’s goal line, while the defenders dive fully to intercept the shot.
Each action unfolds in cathedral-like silence. Players listen attentively, locate the sound of the bell, and anticipate its path. As soon as a goal is scored, the room erupts in resounding applause.
A discipline that brings people together…
As the Turin team scores a sixth goal against Zurich, Sébastien Filippini observes the match closely. A player for the Nice 2 team and founder of ANICES in 2007, he has been advocating for the increased visibility of torball for years. “The promotion of the discipline relies on communication. That’s why we try to launch various initiatives to bring this sport to light. This year, for example, we displayed posters in the Nice tram to announce the tournament. The idea is to attract the curious and to demonstrate that parasport can be spectacular and accessible to the public,” he explains.
For the players, these competitions are also a time of reunion and sharing. “We’re mainly happy to be together, to play with friends, and to compete against European teams. It creates a special atmosphere and builds excitement before the matches,” smiles Cédric Bouchet, a player from Nice 2. “When we see teams coming from Italy, Belgium, or Switzerland, it definitely makes us want to push ourselves further.”
On the bench, emotions run just as high. Coach of the Nice 1 team, Christelle Gilles follows every action attentively. “When you’re a coach, you experience everything from the outside but with a lot of intensity. You analyze positions, try to reassure the players, and encourage them,” she confides.
… and helps in daily life
Beyond the competitive aspect, torball also plays a significant role in the daily lives of its practitioners. Souleymane Jedani, a player from the Nice 1 team, directly appreciates the benefits. “Playing this sport greatly helps in orienting oneself in space. We learn to listen differently, anticipate movements, and utilize the surrounding cues,” he explains.
According to him, the reflexes developed on the field can subsequently be beneficial in everyday life. “We work on orientation, distance perception, and self-confidence. These are things that can truly help on a daily basis, not just in sports.”
ANICES 2 on the brink of glory
As for the results, the team ANICES 1, comprised of Bernard, Cédric, François, and Soulaymane, experienced a mixed tournament. They were defeated by Mons (2-4), Turin (0-2), Teramo (1-8), and ANICES 2 (1-3), but won against Hasselt (4-3) and Zurich (5-0). In the classification match, they ended on a positive note with a victory over Hasselt (2-1).
On the other hand, ANICES 2, led by Mikael, Philippe, Sébastien, and Yacine, had a very successful run. The team started with a draw against Turin (2-2), then lost to Hasselt (2-4), Teramo (2-3), and Mons (0-3). They then bounced back with a victory against ANICES 1 (3–1) and Zurich (5-1). In the finals, ANICES 2 won in the semi-final against Teramo (4-3) before narrowly losing in the final to Mons (1-2).
Final rankings:
1: Mons
2: ANICES 2
3: Turin
4: Teramo
5: ANICES 1
6: Hasselt
7: Zurich.
