The South African Library for the Blind (SALB) has been spreading soccer fever by giving 14 SALB members
the opportunity to say I was there!
The South African Library for the Blind (SALB) has been spreading soccer fever by giving 14 SALB members
the opportunity to say I was there!
HumanWare, a UK based supplier of equipment for the blind and visually impaired, have sponsored the SALB members with tickets for them and their companions to experience a Soccer World Cup match first hand at Nelson Mandela Stadium.
After a lucky draw, three Grahamstown and nine Port Elizabeth members and their companions won the opportunity to attend the England vs Slovakia game.
One member from PE and Grahamstown will also attend the third and fourth place playoff game on Saturday 10 July.
Fikile Mshiywa, Lesley Stork and Lumkile Nzwana from Grahamstown were in high spirits on their way to the game and were not disappointed by the experience.
As SALB ticket holders they were seated in the first level of seating just to the side of the team boxes, with professional commentary being fed to them directly from the commentators’ box.
Thanks to the collaboration of Fifa, the South African National Council of the Blind and the Swiss National Association for the Blind, the latest technology for the visually empaired was harnessed for these blind and partially sighted people to fully experience the Fifa Soccer World Cup.
Audio description technology allowed for a detailed account of the match to be heard through earphones commentated by a journalist. This experience is the first for South African stadiums.
A big thanks to the Grahamstown businesses involved in this awesome experience: JC Shuttle, loyal supporters of the library over the years who generously agreed to sponsor the trip to and from Port Elizabeth.
Also Pick n Pay Pepper Grove Mall also made a contribution towards the travel packs for the ticket holders. The library wishes to thank the sponsors who have made this experience possible and is glad the winners have embraced the amazing opportunity afforded to them.
