March 31, (THEWILL) – FIFA has announced that the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, will feature Audio Descriptive Commentary (ADC) at host stadiums.
ADC provides blind and partially-sighted supporters with an immersive and detailed commentary system, allowing them to experience the stadium atmosphere and on-pitch action.
ADC has already been successfully implemented in other recent FIFA tournaments, including the Men’s World Cup in Qatar, in 2022. Training programmes for aspiring ADC commentators will begin in the two host nations over the next two weeks, with a focus on additional descriptive narration and significant visual information.
The use of ADC has been praised by athletes, including retired Paralympic gold-winning swimmer, Ellie Cole, who emphasised the importance of inclusive design and accessibility in sporting tournaments.
The news has also been welcomed by Russ Gibbs and Ellie Brush, two participants in the ADC program, who praised the opportunity to expand their skill sets and improve their communication skills.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
