The 2024 edition of the Tiro en Braille Interuniversity Tournament was far from being just a “third” edition of the tournament that traces back to 2022. In many respects, this third edition not only expanded but took clear and precious steps towards the consolidation of this annual tournament.
This year, the third annual edition of the Tiro en Braille Interuniversity Tournament took place along three weekends, from May 17 to May 31, 2024. The number of universities has continuously grown, from 8 teams in 2022, then 11 teams in 2023, reaching a record 16 teams in 2024. Additionally, to the already “normal” participation of Universidad de Guanajuato (UG) and Benemérita y Centenaria Escuela Normal Oficial de Guanajuato (BCENOG), the 2024 edition welcomed the participation of three Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Plantel 111 (UPN 111) teams (all of them moved into the quarter-finals and the team led by professor Ruiz eventually secured the third place.
As for sponsors, there has been an equally impressive increase, moving from only one sponsor in 2022 to 8 sponsors in 2023, reaching a record 12 sponsors in 2024. This year our sponsors included: Nieves Cuévano (ice-cream), Estación Gelato (Italian waterice), Panorámico Travels (city-tours), two libraries (La Farolita as well as La Madriguera Literaria), Gypsy Road (sportswear), Imprenta García (printing services), Vida Sana (natural medicine), two restaurants -Delica Mitsu (Japanese food), la Catrina (Mexican food), as well as la Tiendita (souvenirs and handicrafts). Additionally, two relevant institutions joing as partners. Instituto National Electoral (INE) joined as part of its promotion for voting on June 2, 2024 Federal elections (INE sponsored the playing jerseys for all 16 teams), as well a global alliance with UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science, and Culture Organization), which published a few notes as part of the celebration of the International Day for Sport for Development and Peace. These notes can be read in the following links:
After a couple of high-contact tournaments (2022 and 2023), the staff decided towards the Fall of 2023 that a new format, less contact-prone was a chief priority for 2024. On late November 2023, a demo was played to explore a new format. Instead of having a 6 meters x 8 meters rectangle in which all players could chase and wrestle for the ball’s possession, a 10 meters x 10 meters square was implemented for the third edition in 2024. Much more free space between players may mean less contact. Also, contact between teams was limited to a 4 meters x 4 meters neutral zone, within the larger 10 meters x 10 meters square. The outcome was a much more dynamic and less contact-prone third edition in 2024. Additionally, Jonathan, a newcomer participant for the 2024 tournament came up with a brilliant recommendation during one of the three training (pre-tournament) sessions: to include protective helmets (Tae-Kwon-Do) masks to avoid injury if heads collided. This was such a great idea. Jonathan, if you read this blog, thank you very much for your great idea!
Of course, not everything was hunky dory in 2024. We learnt, rather, we were forced to raise our awareness on climate change. The 2024 was planned to be played in the regular size football (soccer) field located in Noria Alta. Normally, the field is a natural-grass venue. As a result of extremely scarce rainfall during the first semester of 2024, and practically no rain prior to May 27, 2024 in Guanajuato City, there were scattered chunks of grass in the field, with 90% of the field’s surface being represented by dry land, which originated, dust clouds during the games, especially on May 17, 2024. This was an alarm for the staff and players. Shall climate change and deforestation continue, it will be difficult to hold our future editions on natural grass. The 2024 photos witness and illustrate the words of this paragraph.
As for the sports results of the tournament. As it happened back in 2022, the team led by Ale Favela (from BCENOG) took home its second first place in three years, establishing it as Tiro en Braille’s powerhouse. The team led by Alberto Pöhls (BCENOG) captured second place, and professor’s Abril Ruiz’s team (UPN 111) secured third place in its first participation ever. This year none of Universidad de Guanajuato’s 7 teams made it to the semi-finals. Jennifer was the tournament’s leading scorer, scoring way over 230 points in just four games. Leonardo secured the men’s top scorer distinction. As it happened in 2023, both Toño (for the disabled men) and Bere (for the disabled women) rounded up the top players awards. As it has been Tiro en Braille’s tradition, neither teams nor players receive any monetary prizes. All prices are products, services, medals, and certificates.
We hope to see many returning players for the fourth edition in 2025. Hopefully, all universities and colleges located in Guanajuato City will field at least one team (per institution) in next year’s tournament.
Daniel Añorve
Project Leader
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