For the first time, Fifa will provide match reports in International Sign on its official Web site, to enable people with hearing impairments to follow the matches more comprehensively.
Fifa says there will be video reports from all 64 matches on www.fifa.com soon after each game. It adds that International Sign is used at international meetings, such as the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Congress.
“Football is a universal sport and it must be accessible to everyone. We are, therefore, delighted to be offering this service for people with hearing impairments and the deaf. By producing these video reports with International Sign, Fifa is serving the needs of over 70 million people," says Fifa president Sepp Blatter, as this is approximately the number of people the WFD represents.
Live action
The soccer governing body will also make special provisions for visually impaired people. Fifa says these people will be able to enjoy a live match experience with the help of headphones. “This is a premier in SA's sporting landscape.
“The initiative, launched by the Swiss National Association for the Blind and the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), and financially supported by Fifa, is aimed at making the tournament accessible to all,” says Fifa.
It adds that six stadiums will each have 15 seats equipped with headphones, and trained commentators will report live on the action happening on the pitch.
There will also be 15 seats allocated to the sighted guides who accompany the visually impaired, and specially trained volunteers will provide assistance within the stadiums, according to Fifa.
Fifa helpers
Fifa partner Sony will provide the necessary transmitters that will allow people to receive match-day commentary in the stadiums free of charge, according to the governing body.
“The SANCB is ensuring the tickets are fairly allocated and only a very limited number of tickets are still available for 19 matches via www.sancb.org.za,” it notes.
“We are delighted to be able to make this unique live experience in the stadium also accessible to visually impaired and blind people. This project is another launching pad for South African sports, and will create a legacy with services and facilities at football grounds for visually impaired and blind South Africans," says Blatter.
The Institute of Advancement of Journalism was responsible for sourcing, training and coordinating the audio descriptors. Students from the Academy of Sound Engineering will perform the technical audio functions that will ensure the audio descriptions are correctly transmitted to the visually impaired fans at the stadiums, according to Fifa.
It adds that the stadiums offering this service are in Tshwane/Pretoria, Durban, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, and Soccer City and Ellis Park, in Johannesburg.
Share