The IBSA has unveiled the logo for the Euro Challenge Cup blind football tournament to be played in Krakow in May ©IBSA

The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) has released the logo for the Blind Football Euro Challenge Cup, a major development tournament to be held in Krakow, Poland in May of this year.

Designed by Polish artist Mirek Krzyszkowski, it features local character and one of the unofficial symbols of the city, Lajkonik.

He is a bearded man dressed in Mongol clothing who sits astride a white hobby horse.

Lajkonik is wearing black eyeshades and kicks a ball above a text which reads "Krakow 2018".

The third IBSA Blind Football Euro Challenge Cup will take place from May 10 to 12 in the Polish city, within the framework of the UEFA-supported IBSA Blind Football Development Project Europe.

The IBSA is partnering with local club Tyniecka NWP Kraków to deliver the tournament.

Romania celebrate victory at the 2016 IBSA Blind Football Euro Challenge Cup in Thessaloniki, Greece ©IBSF
Romania celebrate victory at the 2016 IBSA Blind Football Euro Challenge Cup in Thessaloniki, Greece ©IBSF

Countries which have recently received support from the project have been invited to take part and the final line-up will be announced shortly.

The IBSA will cover their accommodation, meals and local transport while in Krakow.

A referee training course open to officials from all over Europe will also be held in the city immediately prior to the tournament.

The first Euro Challenge Cup was held in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2014, with victory going to Belgium.

The second was staged in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 2016, with Romania emerging victorious.