My bruising bid at Goalball

I jumped at the chance to try two Paralympian sports — sitting volleyball and goalball. Two hours later I had bruised arms and legs — and a heightened appreciation of the Paralympians.

Sitting volleyball players must have part of the body between the buttocks and shoulders in contact with the court when a shot is made. Shuffling round on your backside is not easy. In goalball, blindfolded players aim a ball with a bell inside at their opponents’ net. I feel as if someone is going to trip me up. With only the vaguest sense of the heavy sphere heading in my direction — it can travel at up to 60mph — I lie down and hope it hits me, gasping when it thuds into my chest.

These sports are clearly not a soft option.

The session was hosted by Cisco at the University of East London.