Soccer Sight to bring commentary to blind and partially sighted fans

Soccer Sight, an initiative which brings quality commentary to blind and partially sighted supporters will go live at Wednesday night’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden.

BBC NI recently teamed up with the RNIB NI, the IFA’s Grassroots Department and the George Best Foundation to introduce the initiative at Northern Ireland’s home internationals.

A competition was run to find two people to become professionally trained commentators at Northern Ireland games.

Jackie Fullerton and Joel Taggart had to judge entries of five-minute commentaries describing the imaginary moment your team scored the winning goal in the 2006 World Cup.

Robin Peake from Portrush and Brian Elliott from Newtownards won the competition.

Shane Glynn, Executive Producer of Sport, BBC NI, said: “BBC NI is delighted to be involved with the IFA and the Soccer Sight venture. For us it’s a great opportunity to see what commentating talent might be out there.

“But, first and foremost, it’s great to help in this way to get real fans where they should be – into stadiums, right at the heart of the action.”

Soccer Sight is a form of audio description commentary. It helps give blind and partially sighted people a fuller experience, when attending international football matches.

It differs from regular radio commentaries as it offers a full description of the stadium, game, fan reactions, locations in terms of play and also fan location in relation to pitch and goals.

Shane Logan, Director of RNIB NI, added: “Soccer Sight is an excellent scheme which will enhance the enjoyment of blind and partially sighted people going to Northern Ireland internationals.

“It gives an all round better, fuller and more complete match going experience. Also it opens up the other aspects of going to the football fellow sighted fans appreciate as a matter of course.”

(JM/KMcA)