Leisure

Soccer Sight

Summary: Project bringing audio description to football fans!

• About Soccer Sight
• About commentary
• The clubs
• Useful contacts

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About Soccer Sight

Soccer Sight is a project that aims to bring quality football commentary to blind and partially sighted people at every professional football club in the UK. RNIB have support from The HBOS Foundation, We are V Youth Volunteering charity, the Football Foundation and the BBC to achieve this.

Initially we set up the project with a national competition to find quality commentators to deliver the service at selected football clubs. Forty successful entrants, chosen by a judging panel, won an opportunity to train alongside professional BBC broadcasters and presenters. We have now developed these training sessions to run on a regular basis across the country to provide volunteer commentators at all our Soccer Sight clubs. If you are interested in joining our project contact eleanor.ellison@rnib.org.uk .

About commentary

Commentary is needed to improve access to football for thousands of blind and partially sighted supporters. It gives them the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful game, in the stadium, as it happens.

Hazel Dudley, 56, is blind and a season ticket holder at Liverpool FC. “I watch games at clubs all around the country. My husband, who is also blind, does the same supporting Arsenal. We have no doubt that the standard of commentary for people with sight problems needs to improve. Currently standards are either non-existent, poor quality or biased in favour of the home club. Good commentary for blind supporters is long overdue. Having it would encourage more blind people to go to football matches.”

The clubs

New radio transmission equipment and headsets have been installed at the following clubs

• Arsenal
• Brighton and Hove Albion
• Bristol City
• Brentford
• Cardiff City
• Doncaster Rovers
• Exeter City
• Fulham
• Halifax Town
• Huddersfield Town
• Ipswich Town
• Nottingham Forest
• Notts County
• Norwich City
• Plymouth Argyle
• Swansea City
• Torquay United
• Watford

With Swindon Town, Peterborough United, Hereford United and Yeovil Town coming on board in 2008/09 season.

Useful contacts

Contact RNIB regarding Soccer Sight by emailing 01273 262 221 or email eleanor.ellison@rnib.org.uk

Find out more about audio description in sport.

Content author: talkingimages@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/10/2008 16:12