How do visually impaired people experience football? Cagliari unveils groundbreaking technology

During Cagliari's recent Serie A match against Verona, a unique system designed for visually impaired fans was tested. How does it work?

Details: For this match, Cagliari hosted representatives from the Italian Union of the Blind, specifically the provincial section of Cagliari, led by Daniele Cassioli, a multi-time Paralympic world and European champion in water skiing.

The Touch2See system enables visually impaired individuals to enjoy football matches through an innovative immersive experience at the stadium. A magnetic disc moves across a tactile device representing the field, allowing users to follow the game's action with their fingers in real-time.

Additionally, a vibration system intensifies or diminishes based on the significance of the on-field action, placing fans at the heart of the game. The system also includes audio descriptions that provide contextual information about the match’s developments.

Quote: "We are proud to be the first club to bring Touch2See to Italy, making an important step towards greater inclusivity at our stadium. Seeing the engagement and joy of children as they 'watch' the match through a sensory experience they've never had before rewards our efforts, supported by Serie A, which fully backed this initiative," said Marco Zucca, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Cagliari Calcio.

Notably, Cagliari narrowly defeated Verona 1-0. A video captured the emotional reactions of visually impaired fans to the winning goal.

Reminder: This innovation follows another significant moment in football, where Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove suffered an epileptic seizure during a match against Inter. Fortunately, the club has since shared positive updates about his recovery.