Good News – World Cup Edition
[Image ID - A cover graphic of the world cup Good News article. Featured on a white-patterned background is a hexagonal texture. On the top of the cover are four horizontal lines of pink, yellow, orange and blue. This is accompanied by the DSA logo on the centre-top of the page with a green rectangular box underneath with the text, “Good News - FIFA Women’s World Cup Edition]
Welcome back to Disability Sports Australia’s (DSA) ‘Good News’ series. This fourth instalment will cover the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The football festival was a worldwide celebration of our shared love for the sport. This event marks a moment when the world comes together to enjoy the beauty of the game.
This World Cup made headlines for being the most-watched event in Australian history. It also set new standards for participation and inclusivity. FIFA made important changes to ensure better access and a welcoming environment for people with disabilities. Some powerful stories from players and fans have emerged, demonstrating the positive impact this event has had.
Do you have a story you want us to tell?
Please send the story and your contact details to Disability Sports Australia’s email: info@sports.org.au
Audio descriptive commentary changes the game
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The biggest women's world cup in history is also the most accessible. Along with sensory rooms and social stories, the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is offered Audio-Descriptive Commentary for 40 of its matches. A first for host countries Australia and New Zealand. The commentary was listenable at home, Fan Festivals, and live at the stadiums via the FIFA Interpreting app. Commentators were specially trained to provide descriptions of colours, scenery, actions, ambience and even body language and facial expressions to enable more people than ever to experience one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
Amanda Kwong, one of the commentators for the event in Melbourne / Naarm, stated:
“Football is my passion and I absolutely love watching it. However, my friends who live with low vision/blindness shouldn't have to miss out on all the action. Audio Descriptive Commentary empowers people with vision impairment to experience the game to its fullest and being an audio descriptive commentator shows FIFA's commitment to inclusiveness, which is something I feel proud to be a part of. Ensuring a pool of audio descriptive commentators as diverse as its listeners is also absolutely vital.”
The impact of the ADC has been global. Tanja, a football fan who travelled to the World Cup from Germany due to the availability of ADC, commented that, "It is good that they look after all fans, including people with some disability and that all can enjoy the stadium atmosphere and watch the match." For more on Tanja's World Cup experience, see here.
We couldn't agree more!
For more information on accessibility at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, visit: https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/articles/accessibility-information
To read more about the importance of ADC at the World Cup, visit: https://www.fifa.com/social-impact/sustainability/news/painting-pictures-with-audio-descriptive-commentary
Matildas’ Goalkeeper speaks about her new hearing aids
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Mackenzie Arnold has been the first-choice goalkeeper of Australia's Matildas for some time. Arnold captured the nation's hearts with an incredible performance in the World Cup quarterfinal win against France on August 12, which ended in the longest penalty shootout in Women's World Cup history. What many don't know is that Arnold has lived with hearing loss for most of her life.
The brick wall of a keeper shared a video to her social media in April, showing her getting tested for and picking up a new pair of hearing aids for the first time, describing it as a "life changing day". While Arnold doesn't play with her hearing aids, she is still adjusting to the change. Arnold feels that wearing them throughout the day plays an important role in her performance.
"I do feel a lot more confident within myself when I have them in and I feel like I'm a lot more alert and connected," Arnold told Optus Sport.
Deaf athletes throughout Australia believe this openness about hearing loss will have a hugely positive impact. Deaflympics multimedallist Melinda Vernon believes that "Arnold talking about her journey may help other Deaf and hard of hearing people feel not so alone", as quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald. "Hopefully it starts getting the hearing community thinking and asking questions of Deaf people, so they can learn more."
Sharing the moment
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Sometimes all you need is a hug.
The moments before a World Cup match are fraught with emotion - pride, excitement, and especially nerves. This was certainly the case when the Matildas walked out to face Canada for their final group stage match, a must-win game. The Tillies were accompanied on their walk out by children from disability support service What Ability, who played an important role in easing the pre-match anxiety.
Leo, Mary Fowler's mascot, was certainly feeling the excitement of the moment. Following the national anthems, Leo turned and gave defender Alanna Kennedy a warm, enthusiastic hug.
Speaking on the moment, Kennedy credits Leo with helping to calm her nerves, and those of the entire team, saying he helped "take their minds off the pressure environment for a few minutes". The Matildas ended up winning 4-0 to progress to the knockout stage. Thanks Leo!
To hear the full story from Alanna Kennedy, visit What Ability’s Instagram post here:
To learn more about What Ability, visit: whatability.com.au
Amputee football skills on show at the Unity Pitch
[Image ID - A graphic of the Amputee Football story. On a white hexagonal-patterned background is a green rectangular box on the right with the text, “Amputee Football Skills on Show at the Unity Pitch”. On the left is a photo of athlete LaQuinta Haynes. Separating the photo and the background are four lines of pink, yellow, orange and blue on a 70 degree angle]
The FIFA World Cup’s Unity Pitch featured at all nine host cities throughout Australia and New Zealand. The Unity Pitch brought the opportunity for community groups to come together and showcase football in many forms. Last week, the Sydney/Gadigal iteration hosted representatives from the World Amputee Football Federation and the US Amputee Football Federation, displaying their skills and talking about the impact that Amputee Football has had.
According to FIFA, amputee football is played by over 5000 people in more than 50 countries.
LaQuinta Haynes, one of the athletes, stated that “Amputee soccer has given me a new outlook on my ability, not my disability.” Amie Donathan, who played in the Amputee World Cup last year, added, “The physical health benefits are definitely off the charts.”
Read more here.
