At Blind Ambition, we are delighted to share that UEFA has expanded its audio-descriptive commentary (ADC) service for all 51 matches of UEFA EURO 2024, including today’s highly anticipated final between England and Spain. This service, available through the official UEFA EURO 2024 app, brings blind and partially sighted fans closer to the action, allowing them to fully experience the excitement of the tournament.
Why Audio-Descriptive Commentary is Important
ADC is designed to give blind and partially sighted fans additional information on what is happening in the match. A specially trained commentator provides a detailed account of the action, including descriptions of the position of the ball, body language, and facial expressions—essentially, every significant visual detail that conveys the story of the match.
“You have to differentiate between description and commentary,” explains Broder-Jürgen Trede, an audio-descriptive commentator with more than 20 years of experience. “For example, after a goal, the main question for people who can see is: who was it? But, for people who can’t see, you have to describe the moment. It’s not important who scored, that comes next. First, you have to describe where the ball is and what is happening.”
For Trede, it’s also crucial to provide additional context and emotion. “They still want to experience the emotion from the commentators,” he adds. “You have to find a good mixture between tracking the ball and telling stories or jokes.”
The Impact of Audio-Descriptive Commentary
For blind and visually impaired football fans, ADC is an essential service that enhances their understanding and enjoyment of the game. As Trede mentions, “One listener told me that they’re now able to talk to other people who saw the game. They’re able to discuss it afterwards because they know all the details – sometimes more than people who can see.”
Seema Flower, founder of Blind Ambition, recently attended the England vs. Iceland friendly at Wembley and experienced the benefits of ADC first-hand. “The audio-descriptive commentary made all the difference for me,” she said. “I felt connected to the game in a way I hadn’t before. It’s empowering to be able to follow the match and discuss it with friends who are sighted. This service is truly invaluable.”
How to Access the ADC Service During UEFA EURO 2024
ADC will be available for all matches through the UEFA EURO 2024 app. Here’s how you can access it:
- Download the UEFA EURO 2024 App: Available on both iOS and Android platforms.
- Navigate to More: In the app menu, go to the ‘More‘ section.
- Select Audio Descriptive Commentary: Find the ‘Audio Descriptive Commentary’ or possibly ‘At the Event’ option.
- Choose Audio-Descriptive Commentary: Select this option to access the ADC service.
The service is also available on a web player, ensuring accessibility from any device with an internet connection. For each game, German commentary will be available along with the languages of the two teams. When a language is not available (e.g., Georgian, Serbian), English commentary will be provided.
Enhancing the Experience at the Stadium
For fans attending matches in person, UEFA EURO 2024 partners Deutsche Telekom will ensure connectivity at all ten tournament stadiums. Additionally, vivo, the official partner of EURO 2024, has supplied its X100 series smartphones to assist visually impaired fans at the stadiums in experiencing the tournament. This initiative demonstrates vivo’s commitment to digital inclusivity, focusing on auditory, visual, and elderly care.
Conclusion
The expanded ADC service at UEFA EURO 2024 is a fantastic development for blind and partially sighted fans, ensuring they can fully enjoy every moment of the tournament. By providing detailed, emotion-rich commentary, this service not only enhances the viewing experience but also fosters inclusivity and accessibility. We encourage all our visually impaired followers to take advantage of this incredible feature and immerse themselves in the excitement of the UEFA EURO 2024 final.
Enjoy the game, and… Come On England!
Update after the match
UEFA European Cup Final: An Audio-Described Experience
I was able to easily listen to the audio-described version of the UEFA European Cup final last night. Devastated for England—what a shame they’ve missed out again. Two years until the World Cup, so fingers crossed we can finally bring home a trophy then.
The audio description was amazing and I’d recommend this service for everyone. It allows VIP (visually impaired) fans to get so much more out of the game. The mark on Bellingham’s shirt from a Spanish boot made me cringe. The only slight issue (for everyone else) was that my audio-described feed was about five seconds ahead of the TV coverage, so I had to be careful not to groan or cheer ahead of everyone else in the room, which might ruin it for them.
But it’s amazing that such an inclusive service is now part and parcel of the tournament app, and we commend UEFA for this service. It’s a significant step towards making football more accessible to all fans, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the excitement of the game.
I’d also like to commend the commentators who described the game in such engaging detail. Their vivid descriptions and enthusiastic delivery made the experience truly immersive, capturing the excitement and intensity of the match.
For anyone who hasn’t tried it yet, I highly recommend giving the audio description a go—it’s a game-changer!
Iphone Screenshots below.
- On the iPhone home screen, click More UEFA EURO 2024 Final: A Guide for Blind and Partially Sighted Fans in the bottom right.
- Click Audio Descriptive Commentary from the list (it’s near the bottom)
- Listen to live commentary.
