Unpublished! In the United Kingdom, the Newcastle United club offers its deaf supporters haptic jerseys that transform stadium noise into tactile sensations in real time. Objective: improve the accessibility of sporting events. Go!
Fervent Newcastle United supporters, David and Ryan (pictured opposite) have been going to St James’ Park (United Kingdom) since they were very young. On April 13, 2024, the match against Tottenham Hotspur will have a special flavor… These two deaf friends will wear haptic football jerseys allowing them to feel all the atmosphere and excitement of this legendary stadium. A “world first”, according to Sela, official sponsor of the famous English club’s jerseys!
Available for all home matches
These jerseys transform stadium noise into tactile sensations in real time. They will now be offered to all Newcastle United fans with hearing impairments, including children who accompany players on match day, at every home game, the team promises. Objective ? Encourage other “Premier League” clubs (the equivalent of Ligue 1 in France), as well as those in Europe and elsewhere, to improve the accessibility of live sporting events! “We invite the entire football family to take the same approach to help overcome the barriers that deaf people face in fully experiencing the atmosphere and excitement of live football matches,” encourages Teri Devine, director of football. inclusion in the RNID (Royal national institute for deaf people).
A match “solidarity”
Other news: Sela has decided to donate its sponsorship rights for this match to this charitable organization which supports the 12 million British people who are deaf, hard of hearing or suffer from tinnitus. “This is the first time such an organization will be represented on the front of a Premier League shirt,” welcome the partners.
The « new tech » in the service of accessibility
New technologies, an accessibility booster for sporting events? « Yes », respond 71% of deaf and hard of hearing British people, according to a study carried out by RNID in 2024. « Last but not least » (last but not least), according to a previous survey, 93% of them declare that nothing can “beat the thrill” felt when watching a match in a stadium.
Chelsea anthem in sign language
At the end of October 2023, another English club mobilized in favor of its deaf and hard of hearing supporters. At half-time, singer James Vickery, who has been deaf in his left ear since birth, was accompanied by a choir performing the iconic Chelsea football club anthem, « Blue is the colour », in British Sign Language.
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“All rights of reproduction and representation reserved.© Handicap.fr. This article was written by Cassandre Rogeret, journalist Handicap.fr”
2024-04-12 22:18:59
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