Audio descriptive commentary enhances experience for blind fans

Farraj al-Shammari, a 29-year-old blind Saudi football fan and sports journalist has made his way to Qatar to support the Green Falcons in their bid for a fourth AFC Asian Cup title. Al-Shammari is one of many blind and partially sighted fans that are making use of the audio descriptive commentary service at AFC Asian Cup Qatar. The specialised accessibility feature allows him to access a more detailed commentary of events on the pitch and in the stands in the Arabic language.
“Attending football matches using audio descriptive commentary is a wonderful experience. I never imagined I would enjoy football in this way,” said al-Shammari. “In the past, blind fans would have to rely on the roar of the fans or the narration of a friend to know what’s going on. It was never a full experience. With this service, I can follow the action closely, both on and off the pitch.”
Audio descriptive commentary was first introduced at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It was the first time that the service was made available in the Arabic language. Building on this legacy, the service is available once again during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar. Specialised commentators were recruited from the community where they received extensive training from the Asian Cup Qatar Local Organising Committee (LOC) in co-ordination with Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
Fans can access the service on their personal mobile devices and use their own headphones to listen to the commentary. The service can be accessed from anywhere in the stadium. Audio descriptive commentary provides fans with a detailed account of what is happening in the stadium, including where the ball is on the pitch, players’ facial expressions and what is happening in the stands.
For Engineer Bodour al-Meer, LOC Executive Director of Sustainability, the inclusion of this service is a core pillar of the tournament’s commitment to providing an accessible experience to all fans: “We believe that everyone has the right to enjoy football, regardless of their ability. Audio descriptive commentary builds on the legacy of Qatar 2022, where we were able to deliver a tournament that went above and beyond accessibility standards.”
In addition to audio descriptive commentary, the AFC Asian Cup offers other accessibility features such as accessible entrances and seating for wheelchair users and fans with limited mobility as well as sensory rooms for fans with sensory access requirements, including autism.
“Football is my favourite sport. It’s a beautiful game that brings people together. I was happy to be in the stands to support Saudi and take in the atmosphere and follow my team with tens of thousands of other fans. The work being done in Qatar in this space is to be commended,” added al-Shammari.
Qatar is hosting the AFC Asian Cup for a record third time after successfully hosting it in 1988 and 2011. Twenty-four of the continent’s best teams will compete for the continent’s most prestigious football title.