Drivalia: supporting visual impairment through sport

A painful condition that affects human beings and prevents, for instance, driving a car, is low vision or the absence of it. However, technology — in the not-so-distant future — will allow blind and visually impaired people to drive independently. Drivalia’s vision of mobility will certainly contribute to that future.

Beyond the exciting developments that tomorrow will bring — or is already bringing — with autonomous vehicles, the company has embraced the cause of visual impairment through its support of a goalball event, an exciting team sport developed specifically for athletes with visual disabilities.

It was created in 1946 to help rehabilitate World War II veterans who had lost their sight. The sport is played by two teams of three players, usually on an indoor court. The objective is to roll a ball with embedded bells past the opposing players and into the goal.

There are several goalball competitions, including the European Champions League and the Paralympic Games. From 5 to 7 September, the Goalball Grand Prix Odivelas 2025 took place on the outskirts of Lisbon.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and ESG policy, and with the presence of the Drivalia brand, the company supported the event that brought together clubs from several European countries in a competition organised by CAC Clube Atlético e Cultural under the aegis of the EGCA – European Goalball Club Association.

Admission was free, with live streaming on YouTube, and after a series of closely contested matches, the Finnish team Old Power emerged as champion, defeating the Portuguese team CAC 6–5.

It was a great success — the Goalball Grand Prix truly delivered!