Vilnius prepares for World Championship for Blind Tennis

Vilnius is gearing up to host the World Championship for Blind Tennis, with the first participants, athletes from Argentina, expected to arrive on Friday. The main influx of athletes and their teams is anticipated over the weekend. Championship director Aidas Danilovas stated that 85-90% of planned work is complete, acknowledging that organizing such a large event always presents unexpected challenges.

Danilovas highlighted that the primary focus now is on smoothly welcoming athletes and their support staff, managing logistics, accommodation, and training schedules. Approximately 50 volunteers will assist organizers throughout the event week, with recruitment ongoing. The SEB Arena, which has previously hosted major tennis events like Davis Cup matches and ATP Challenger tournaments, is undergoing specific adaptations for the blind tennis championship.

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Everything is going successfully, at the moment, I would say we have completed 85-90 percent of all planned work. We are working very intensively – it seems you know everything and have planned everything, but when organizing an event of this size, unexpected things always arise. Now the biggest challenge will be to smoothly welcome the athletes and staff, take care of their logistics, accommodation, and training. But essentially, we are ready for the championship.

Eleven courts will be utilized, with live broadcasts from five of them. The arena's team is implementing special protective measures for sharp corners and installing special markings to aid movement for visually impaired participants. Before the competition commences, all athletes must undergo a vision check in Vilnius. A medical commission, comprising specialists from the Czech Republic, Ireland, and Poland, will conduct these checks at the 'Žiūra' clinic on Sunday and Monday to assign athletes to one of four visual impairment categories. The draw for the tournament will take place on Monday evening, followed by the official opening ceremony at 5 p.m. on the central court of the SEB Arena.

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The arena team has proven more than once that they can organize any level of tennis event here. However, our championship is a bit different for understandable reasons. We greatly appreciate the arena's goodwill – its team has taken it upon themselves to provide special protection against sharp corners, and special markings will be installed to facilitate movement. For people with visual impairments, such seemingly small details are very important.