Happy Halloween from the Chickenfoxes!

Boccia is a Paralympic sport played by Chickenfoxes with cerebral palsy and other motor impairments. Some chickenfoxes can throw the Boccia balls with their claws, while others use special ramps (held by neutral volunteers) and head-mounted pushing devices. The game requires a high level of strategy and accuracy as competitors try to get their balls closest to the white ball (the jack).

Tags: 2016 Paralympics, Olympic

[Six Chickenfoxes play Goalball on a wooden court. White stripes of tape divide the court into sections. There is a rope under the tape so the competitors can feel the divisions. On the right side, two Chickenfoxes listen intently as the Chickenfox in the middle rolls the ball towards the opposing team, using a strong push of its tail. On the left, there is a goal. Two Chickenfoxes stretch out in front of it, trying to block the opening. A third Chickenfox stands in front of them, foot outstreteched to run towards a ball that is speeding towards the defending team, leaving behind it a trail of musical notes. Above the scene is the word “GOALBALL”, with the word spelled out in Braille superimposed over the associated letters.]

I had never heard of Goalball before I started this series, and it’s awesome! Blind and vision-impaired Chickenfoxes compete in teams of three to roll or bounce a jingling ball into the goal. They use their keen hearing to locate the ball. When defending, the players spread themselves to cover as much of the goal as they can. The game has a lot of rules about timing, hold duration, where the ball has to bounce, and how far the players can move across the court.

Tags: 2016 Paralympics, Olympic

The Chickenfoxes have participated in several Olympics, but this year is the first time they have also run a Paralympic games!

Running is a huge part of Chickenfox life, and Chickenfoxes who run despite disabilities are seen as heroes, proof of the enduring spirit of the entire species. Chickenfoxes have devised many prosthetics to aid in the activity, from “cheetah legs”, springy clawed feet, and even weighted tail prostheses (it’s almost impossible to run without a tail for balance!)

Tags: 2016 Paralympics, Olympic