Paralympics 2012: goalball – in pictures

Goalball is a sport for visually impaired athletes. Played over two 12-minute halves, two teams of three players attempt to throw a weighted blue ball filled with bells into their rivals' net. All competitors are masked to ensure complete visual impairment. Here, Britain's Adam Knott gets his eye patches put on by a coach before the match Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Britain are facing the world champions from Lithuania in their first match Photograph: Tom Jenkins

GB's starting line-up is Michael Sharkey, Niall Graham and Adam Knott Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The game gets underway and the teams exchange shots on goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins

With total silence necessary during play to allow the competitors to hear the ball, a steward waves a sign to let the crowd know when they can cheer Photograph: Tom Jenkins

A referee checks the opacity of a mask before Finland's match with Brazil Photograph: Tom Jenkins

In another match, Turkish player Tekin Okan Duzgun punches the air as he comes onto the court Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Britain's players are all eager to locate the ball Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Swedish player Niklas Hultqvist shoots against Turkey in their group A clash Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Filippe Santos Silvestre of Brazil takes an unorthodox shot between his legs Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Britain's David Knott composes himself before shooting Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Swedish player Magnus Rendahl fumbles the ball and concedes a goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins

That's more like it. Finlan's Petri Posio gets himself behind the ball Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Brazilians have got their angles covered too Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Turkish players Tuncay Karakaya and Tekin Okan Duzgun are loving every minute of it Photograph: Tom Jenkins