2016 Rio Olympics: Aussies end goalball campaign as Algeria forfeit controversy rumbles on

AUSTRALIA’S fairytale Paralympic Games goalball journey has ended in elimination, but coach Peter Corr insists his players will emerge a stronger group.

Australia produced a goalball campaign ‘to be proud of’.

AUSTRALIA’S fairytale Paralympic Games goalball journey has ended in elimination, but coach Peter Corr insists his players will emerge from the whirlwind a stronger group.

The Aussie Belles fell 6-0 to Canada in their final pool match, in a clash they needed to draw or win to make it past the round-robin phase.

“I’ve got a group of girls here I couldn’t be more proud of,” Corr said.

“There are 20-plus teams somewhere in the world which they wish they were in our position right now.

“These girls turned their lives around to represent their country and they went out there and gave it their best shot.”

Australia picked up their first point in goalball but couldn’t get to the quarterfinals.

The Belles were the Cinderella story of Australia’s Paralympic team, only securing their place in the 10-nation Rio goalball competition when Russia’s blanket ban was confirmed 10 days out from the opening ceremony.

The green light was the final twist in a distraction-filled preparation that began earlier this year when the world No.9-ranked Belles’ Games spot was withdrawn and handed to the winner of a tournament of African nations.

Algeria won that position, but then failed to front in Rio for its opening two matches in what has been interpreted as a political protest against game-two opponent Israel. Algeria has blamed international travel complications.

And the International Blind Sports Federation must have agreed because Algeria have escaped with a slap on the wrist.

Corr slammed Algeria’s “disrespectful” actions, saying they were making a mockery of the Paralympic movement.

“Algeria have kept another team away in my opinion and they inhibited our preparation,” he said.

The International Paralympic Committee is investigating but says it needs concrete evidence to disqualify Algeria.

In a meeting on Wednesday (EST), Algeria, who apologised to rival countries for their delayed arrival, was unable to provide any proof of why they were late, but the International Blind Sports Federation accepted their apology without sanction.

Australia tried hard but couldn’t get past Canada.

Australia secured their best result in Paralympic competition with a 2-2 draw against the Ukraine at the weekend.

Corr said the rollercoaster experience was a valuable learning curve for his players.

“I think they’ll be really disappointed because they didn’t come here with any excuses,” he said.

“They’re growing up as athletes. That’s the good thing. They’re not just here to participate or tick the box that they’re a ‘two-time Paralympian’. They want to come here and be the best they can be.

“Hopefully we’ve earnt some respect from the Australian Paralympic Committee and we can get some serious funding to keep the program, help goalball grow in Australia, broaden the base and set our sights on Tokyo (2020).”

Originally published as 2016 Rio Olympics: Aussies end goalball campaign as Algeria forfeit controversy rumbles on