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Thinking accessibility beyond mobility
124 Plays1 year ago
Remember the last time you visited a stadium for a sports event? What was the biggest challenge that you faced in order to get there, to access your seats, to get your food, beers or soda?
Maybe the biggest challenge was to climb a mountain, cross a river or follow directions that did not exist. No? Well, 15% of the global population faces accessibility difficulties even before they reach the sports venue, it could start when they buy the tickets or from the moment they leave home to go to the venue.
This episode explores the future of accessibility of sport events and the responsibilities of International Federations and other stakeholders in improving standards. José Soares is our guest today in the new SCORE Podcast. José is the Founder & Chief Association Executive of Football for All Leadership Programme and Integrated Dreams Association.
For José, a key element to finding solutions is collaboration between Sports Federations. Avoiding reinventing the wheel and sharing best practices is the first step towards a better future of accessibility.
Additional crucial points have been shared by José: Technology and Digital Accessibility, Local Authorities’ (City) role and the awareness and importance of working beyond mobility accessibility.
Check out our website score-sport.com and our LinkedIn page, to find more information about what we do. Please rate, comment and share, if you feel like it.
This episode was recorded in September 2022.
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Transcript
Introduction to SCORE Podcast
00:00:11
Speaker
Welcome to SCORE podcast.
00:00:12
Speaker
In this podcast, we discuss the responsibility of sports for and within society.
00:00:17
Speaker
What impact should sport have on our world?
00:00:19
Speaker
Can sport do more?
00:00:21
Speaker
Who is responsible?
00:00:22
Speaker
To address these questions, we focus on possible solutions and desired scenarios.
00:00:28
Speaker
We break our discussion down in four parts.
00:00:31
Speaker
First, we describe the current situation.
00:00:33
Speaker
Second, we draw the ideal future scenario.
00:00:36
Speaker
Third, we walk backwards, defining the key milestones.
00:00:40
Speaker
And then, we call for actions needed today.
00:00:43
Speaker
And we are your hosts today, Donata Taddea and Alexandra Volkova.
Meet Jose Soares: Advocate for Sports Accessibility
00:00:58
Speaker
Today we got together to discuss the future of sports events accessibility and what is the responsibility of international federations when it comes to this meta.
00:01:07
Speaker
Our guest today is Jose Soares.
00:01:08
Speaker
Welcome, Jose.
00:01:10
Speaker
To SCORE Podcast.
00:01:10
Speaker
Hello.
00:01:13
Speaker
José is the founder and chief association executive of Football for All Leadership Programme, an integrated dreams association.
00:01:21
Speaker
His program's mission is to educate football managers with different types of disabilities all around Europe.
00:01:28
Speaker
José is really moved by the cause of sport accessibility for all types of population in the sports industry, spectators, participants and workers.
00:01:38
Speaker
José, have we missed anything?
00:01:41
Speaker
No, everything is great.
00:01:42
Speaker
And thank you very much for this kind introduction and for the opportunity to join you this afternoon.
00:01:48
Speaker
And
00:01:48
Speaker
It's really a great honor to be here and to be joining this core podcast and to share a project that is my work, but much more than my work is my passion.
00:02:01
Speaker
It's a cause in which I really believe and in which I really like to give all the hours of my day for this passion and to make the sports world accessible or at least a little bit more accessible for everyone so that everyone can enjoy this passion for sports.
00:02:18
Speaker
Great, and with this being said, I suggest we move straight to the part one of our conversation.
Accessibility as a Human Right in Sports
00:02:29
Speaker
So, Jose, can you explain us what international federations are doing now to make the sport events accessible and why is it important?
00:02:38
Speaker
Thank you, Sashek.
00:02:38
Speaker
No, it's a great question.
00:02:41
Speaker
It's really an important topic nowadays.
00:02:44
Speaker
And I think first, when we talk about accessibilities in the sports world, in the first point, it's always a question of human rights.
00:02:55
Speaker
I think everyone should have the right of accessing any sports event live and everyone should...
00:03:03
Speaker
Everyone should really, like, we shouldn't have obstacles to fill this passion for the sports world.
00:03:10
Speaker
Like, I always was a big, and I always was, and I'm currently a big sports fan, and I love to attend to sports events, to sports competitions.
00:03:19
Speaker
It's always a unique thing.
00:03:21
Speaker
a unique feeling to be to be live at the stadium at the swimming pool at any at an indoor arena at any any venue and and it's really it's and and it shouldn't be it shouldn't be blocked to anyone this this this opportunity to to to access to a live sports event and then on also in another context
00:03:42
Speaker
Like when we talk about the main sports organizations, like about the international federations that are organizations that are responsible for governing specific sports at a worldwide level, we need to consider these organizations as global organizations.
00:04:00
Speaker
These are not an organization just for a specific public.
00:04:04
Speaker
These are organizations that are global, that are worldwide level, that should be
00:04:10
Speaker
that organize global events and that should be organizations for everyone, that should be also global in terms of their population, in terms of their fan base.
00:04:23
Speaker
And in this sense, their events should also be open to everyone and should be events where anyone can access.
00:04:32
Speaker
And with this, there is also another component that I think we should also consider when we talk about the inclusion of disabled people and the disability community in the sports world, that is...
00:04:48
Speaker
is disability, besides all the topics that we mentioned already, should be also seen as an opportunity for the sports world and for the sports market, in particular for international federations.
00:05:02
Speaker
Because when we talk about disabled people, we are not talking about one or two people in the world.
00:05:07
Speaker
We are talking about the group that represents more than one billion people.
00:05:13
Speaker
people around our planet.
00:05:15
Speaker
And it's a group, it's the biggest social group nowadays.
00:05:18
Speaker
It's a group that represents, as I mentioned, more than one billion people, so around 15 to 20% of the global population.
00:05:26
Speaker
And it's a growing group.
00:05:27
Speaker
Even we need to think that with the increase of the life expectancy, more people will have, will live with a disability.
00:05:36
Speaker
And this is definitely a huge opportunity that the sports world and in particular DAFs have not only in terms of markets, but also in terms of inclusion, in terms of innovation and in terms of fan base.
00:05:52
Speaker
And also just to conclude that besides the group that is 15 to 20% of the global population,
00:06:00
Speaker
We also need to think in the people that are close to them.
00:06:03
Speaker
For example, I'm not a father yet, but if I have a son or a daughter with a disability and they couldn't access to a sports event, I wouldn't also go to this event.
00:06:13
Speaker
I would never leave my son or my daughter.
00:06:15
Speaker
And this applies to sons and daughters.
00:06:18
Speaker
but also to friends.
00:06:19
Speaker
If I go with a friend who is a disabled person to an event and he or she cannot access this event, probably the IF will not be only losing this person, but also myself as a
International Federations and Accessibility Progress
00:06:31
Speaker
fan.
00:06:31
Speaker
So I think that the time for changing and the call for action is now.
00:06:37
Speaker
And there is definitely a world to be explored in this field.
00:06:42
Speaker
Jose, can you tell us a little bit more details about where this number comes from, 15 to 20 percent?
00:06:47
Speaker
Because sometimes it's shocking for people to hear, but I'm sure you have background information about that.
00:06:53
Speaker
No, it comes from the most recent report from the United Nations.
00:06:57
Speaker
So these are numbers that come from an official level from the United Nations.
00:07:09
Speaker
And Jose, you said that this is a growing number.
00:07:11
Speaker
So this is definitely something that the International Federation should be looking at.
00:07:16
Speaker
And as you said, that should be seen as an opportunity.
00:07:20
Speaker
This makes me think that it's not seen as an opportunity right now, right?
00:07:24
Speaker
So what are International Federations doing these days to tackle this subject?
00:07:31
Speaker
I think it's still not, as you mentioned, Donat, it's still not an opportunity.
00:07:36
Speaker
Things are step by step starting to change.
00:07:39
Speaker
And I think the world of sports is becoming more open to disability and start considering it more like as a part of the structure of the sports world, in particular, this environment involving all the international sports federations.
00:07:58
Speaker
And at the moment, as you mentioned, there is still... What we see is that there are quite a few already IFs that already include somehow disability.
00:08:11
Speaker
For example, we have...
00:08:13
Speaker
We have various IFs that already include their para-sport discipline within their scope.
00:08:20
Speaker
We could here be mentioning just a few, for example, the Cycling International Federation, UCI already includes para-cycling, the International Table Tennis Federation, the International Tennis Federation, World Archery, and others.
00:08:35
Speaker
There are quite a few.
00:08:36
Speaker
Also, there was recently created the Association of Paralympic Sports Organizations, even with the
00:08:42
Speaker
with the objective of gathering these IFs who already include their Parasport, that are quite a few already, even more than the ones that I could even mention a few more.
00:08:51
Speaker
But...
00:08:52
Speaker
What I see nowadays, at least from my point of view, is that when we talk, when we match this conversation between IFs, International Sports Federations, and the topic of disability, it's still very much from the playing point of view.
00:09:08
Speaker
So from the point of view of including their parasport discipline or the parasport discipline that is closest or more associated with their mainstream sport,
00:09:19
Speaker
within their scope and still not and we still didn't and here is where I think that the next step should be done is to pass from also the playing point of view that is definitely important and has been creating a strong impact towards the development of parasports around the world but also
00:09:39
Speaker
in the non-playing aspects.
00:09:41
Speaker
I think we need to, the next step for International Sports Federations is to make the match with this ability, not only from the playing aspect, but also from the non-playing aspects.
00:09:54
Speaker
And here I include like the fan experience.
00:09:56
Speaker
In particular here, we are talking about
00:09:58
Speaker
stadium or venue or like sports event accessibility, the employment topic, they are still, and here, as some of you might know already, our work, like the Football for All Leadership Programme is very much focused in this area of inclusive employment in sports.
00:10:16
Speaker
And I think there is still, at least from our point of view and our experience working in this area,
00:10:22
Speaker
there are still very few disabled people working or somehow involved even with their own entrepreneurship projects within the sports world.
00:10:32
Speaker
And also in terms of media, we need to, because when we think in accessibility, we need to think on a broader concept.
00:10:39
Speaker
And here it's on the playing aspect where
00:10:43
Speaker
some work has been done.
00:10:45
Speaker
I wouldn't say we are in the perfect point, but some work has been done already by quite a few international sports federations.
00:10:52
Speaker
But now we need to jump for the non-playing aspects.
00:10:54
Speaker
And here, I think mainly in employment, fan experience, and here all kinds of stadium and event sports accessibilities.
00:11:04
Speaker
And also the media, the way how the sports industry and the sports media relates with this population.
00:11:10
Speaker
And even in terms of
00:11:13
Speaker
of the connection in general between the sports world and this group that is 15 to 20% of the global population.
00:11:23
Speaker
And about some positive examples in this area, more now focusing not so much now in the playing aspects, but more in the non-playing aspects.
Success Stories in Sports Accessibility
00:11:34
Speaker
Here, I would say that definitely in terms of international sports federations, I'll mention FIFA.
00:11:40
Speaker
And FIFA probably was the first international sports federation who definitely included, like, here stadium or event accessibility within their scope.
00:11:54
Speaker
And nowadays...
00:11:55
Speaker
We can see that FIFA has already at least one person that is working full-time in these topics of accessibility for their sports events.
00:12:05
Speaker
And then in their local organizing committees, they also include other people who are definitely focused and concentrated in promoting an accessible experience for all the football fans that go to their World Cups and all the competitions organized by FIFA.
00:12:22
Speaker
And even FIFA created here and was the first or one of the first I have to create a strategy focused in accessibility for their events.
00:12:34
Speaker
And now it's even a good time to talk about FIFA because in less than two months, we'll have the men's football, the male football World Cup starting in Qatar.
00:12:44
Speaker
And we are very excited and looking forward because in terms of accessibility,
00:12:50
Speaker
will definitely be a step forward in terms of accessibility in international main sport events.
00:13:02
Speaker
Besides FIFA, I would also give here
00:13:06
Speaker
Besides FIFA, that is definitely doing a great work here in this area.
00:13:11
Speaker
I'll also give a word here too, and I think it's important to mention the work that has more recently been done also by FIA, so the Motorsports International Sports Body.
00:13:24
Speaker
So they have created a disability and an accessibility committee that is definitely important
00:13:32
Speaker
a milestone, a key point for NIF.
00:13:37
Speaker
And even if this committee is quite focused also like in playing or in this case even more driving opportunities for disabled people, it also like as part of this committee, it also came out the FIA, the FIA scholarship that
00:13:57
Speaker
that allowed for a disabled person studying sports management to have an internship and to work.
00:14:04
Speaker
So it was definitely a landmark in terms of employment for disabled people in the IF.
00:14:11
Speaker
I would say it was even as far as I know and here, but from the research that I've done during the last year, it was the first International Federation to create a scholarship specifically for disabled people who want to work in sports
00:14:25
Speaker
to have the opportunity of living their dream of working in sports in this particular international federation.
00:14:33
Speaker
And also FIA has created an award to celebrate the most outstanding
00:14:41
Speaker
um outstanding initiatives like in the area of accessibility of motorsports and and i know that now some some new things are coming i know that they have been studying the possibility even of turning them the the podiums of their competitions accessible for disabled people and so it's definitely an if that we should also give a word to them and we should also
00:15:04
Speaker
we should also be happy for them, the approach that they have been having in this, in this field.
00:15:09
Speaker
And then there is another organization that is not, not an IF, but I consider it still a, an international sports.
00:15:17
Speaker
It's a, it's a confederation that is, that is UEFA, that also based in near, near Lausanne, also based in Switzerland.
00:15:24
Speaker
That is, that also like during the last years here in, with a strong collaboration with CAFE, so the center for access to football in Europe, that is,
00:15:34
Speaker
an organization that has been doing an incredible work in the promotion of accessibilities in the main football events here in Europe.
00:15:43
Speaker
we have in the last european tournaments like here the men's and and women's football um heroes also also the champions league the men men and women's football champions league as well as the europa league the conference league they have already like some some work developed in this area and and and even together with cafe they created a document that is also seen as as um as a refer a reference in in this area that was the
00:16:10
Speaker
the guidebook for stadium accessibility also.
00:16:13
Speaker
So I'd say these are like the international sports organizations that have been working more in this field and hope that in the future we have more and more coming out because it's a matter of human rights, of inclusion, but also of innovation and opportunity.
00:16:33
Speaker
So I think the path is to be done.
00:16:39
Speaker
Let me summarize a little bit.
00:16:40
Speaker
So when we break down accessibility, we talk about one aspect is athletes and participants.
00:16:46
Speaker
So for them to access competition, so IAFs could do more in terms of uniting together with paradesciplines, making their facilities more accessible.
00:16:55
Speaker
The second one is the population of fans.
00:17:00
Speaker
for them to access, to arrive to the competition, to access the stadium, to enjoy the fun experience, fun and fun experience.
00:17:09
Speaker
And the third one is employees of international federations for them to create this program.
00:17:15
Speaker
And as I understand, we see that some federations advanced in it and the possible solutions could be to create a committee, to create a person responsible, to create a strategy.
00:17:26
Speaker
So all this
00:17:28
Speaker
best practices and best examples could be used.
00:17:31
Speaker
And I think it brings us to the second part of our conversation.
00:17:35
Speaker
What do you think, Donata?
00:17:37
Speaker
Yes, now it is time to jump to our next part of the conversation, which is our desired future.
00:17:52
Speaker
So, José, here we are.
00:17:53
Speaker
What future have you taken us to?
00:17:56
Speaker
Where are we?
00:17:58
Speaker
Thank you.
00:17:59
Speaker
We are in a good future, definitely.
00:18:01
Speaker
And this future is the future where, I would say, the ideal future and is where accessibility is not even a topic.
00:18:10
Speaker
It's not even a topic and is a good future where even we wouldn't need to be here talking about this topic.
00:18:19
Speaker
And because...
00:18:21
Speaker
Like, this is what happens to disabled people is the same, like, with non-disabled people.
00:18:26
Speaker
For example, if to go to a sports venue, we'll need to jump through a river and climb many, many rocks and many mountains.
00:18:36
Speaker
Probably wouldn't be accessible also for people who don't have an official disability.
00:18:42
Speaker
And here, as we don't need nowadays, as we don't need to climb rocks and jump to rivers and jump to...
00:18:51
Speaker
and jump to and do any crazy thing to reach to a sports event.
00:18:57
Speaker
But unfortunately, disabled people still need to do some risky things to go to watch to their football team or to go to any sports competition.
00:19:08
Speaker
And it's that that we need to, that is our challenge for the coming years, for the next 10, 15, maybe 20 years.
00:19:16
Speaker
It might take some time, but we need to,
00:19:18
Speaker
we need to make sure that any person having or not a disability can go to any sport event without having any concern or any bad experience or even without being afraid of anything bad that can happen.
00:19:38
Speaker
For example,
00:19:40
Speaker
If I want to go to a sports event, I normally go, I buy the tickets in the internet or even sometimes in the ticket office, and I go by public transportation or I can drive my car and I just go.
00:19:56
Speaker
And it's not even a topic the way how I will reach the venue.
00:20:02
Speaker
But unfortunately for disabled people, it's still a topic.
00:20:06
Speaker
And the topic even starts before, many times we think in stadium or venue accessibility, but the topic starts even before that.
00:20:16
Speaker
It starts from the moment they leave their home.
00:20:19
Speaker
And even if the stairs of the building are not accessible from their home, it's already the first problem.
00:20:24
Speaker
And then if they don't have a public transport that can take them or a car or
00:20:29
Speaker
or if they cannot park their car in an accessible zone of the stadium,
00:20:34
Speaker
There is not even the point of having a very accessible venue.
00:20:39
Speaker
And my ideal future is where a disabled person can just think, today I want to go to a football match or to a basketball match or to a swimming competition or to a volleyball match.
00:20:52
Speaker
And I just go, I buy the ticket where I want or in the internet or in the ticket office or in a ticket agency and
00:21:00
Speaker
And I just go and enjoy with my, and I can be near my friends or near my family and we can just enjoy and have a nice evening or a nice afternoon watching to my favorite sport or my favorite team.
00:21:12
Speaker
And that is my ideal future where accessibility is not even something where we need to think or talk.
00:21:20
Speaker
We won't let you go so easy with that, you know.
00:21:23
Speaker
Can you just defragment a little bit so I understand.
00:21:27
Speaker
Now, with my experience working in football and going to the stadiums, there are a lot of quite old stadiums and this problem is resolved with the human power.
00:21:36
Speaker
So people are just carrying the wheelchairs, for example, or company, people with disabilities.
00:21:42
Speaker
And this is solved, at least in this area and in this sport.
00:21:48
Speaker
But the venues are not ideal.
00:21:50
Speaker
But if we bring you to the International Federation of Sports Governing Body perspective, how do you see them functioning?
00:21:57
Speaker
What should be, how are they structured?
00:22:00
Speaker
So what the ideal future you're describing is a reality.
00:22:04
Speaker
And I understand you mentioned before, I also want you to bring back to what you said about global organizations.
00:22:09
Speaker
Yeah, we are talking not about Europe and Europe-centered processes.
00:22:15
Speaker
Can you talk a little bit about the rest of the world?
00:22:19
Speaker
How do you see the ideal future for them and how international federations are addressing it within this ideal future?
Future Visions for Sports Accessibility
00:22:29
Speaker
It's a really good and really important question.
00:22:35
Speaker
First, going to the DIFs, more in the broad perspective of the DIFs, International Sports Federations.
00:22:42
Speaker
So here, I think the first, there are two words that came to my mind as the next steps in order to achieve the ideal future.
00:22:54
Speaker
And these two words are structured.
00:22:56
Speaker
So we need to definitely, each IF needs to structure them and to have in mind where they will put this topic within their structure because sometimes the problem is
00:23:10
Speaker
is that is even where and where will we place accessibility within the structure of our international of our international sports federations because sometimes they think this should be in the foundation or in the csr but then this is not a topic in my opinion at least of csr this is a topic of opportunity a topic of event management the topic of of even operations event operations
00:23:37
Speaker
And then the second word that I'm, and maybe the second is even more important than I think is where it will be the second word that will lead us to the ideal future in seven years.
00:23:52
Speaker
is collaboration.
00:23:53
Speaker
And here, I think we don't need, there is a risk also that we need to avoid and even the IEFs that when they start addressing more and more this topic of event accessibility, they need to, I think that there is a big risk that is everyone building their own accessibility way.
00:24:12
Speaker
And here, I think we don't need to invent the wheel.
00:24:16
Speaker
We need, even because for example,
00:24:19
Speaker
giving an example, many IFs, like many competitions, take place in the same venues.
00:24:24
Speaker
For example, an arena, like an accessible arena, can hold a handball World Cup, a basketball World Cup, a volleyball World Cup, or
00:24:37
Speaker
Football stadiums many times is used also for rugby World Cup and the same happens in the opposite side.
00:24:44
Speaker
Even the streets, for example, you see track and field like the marathons use and more and more big sports events and more and more diefs are using like the public streets, like the public parts of the cities to organize their events.
00:25:00
Speaker
And here, I think that there is definitely, they should work together because
00:25:06
Speaker
if everyone decides to do accessibility in their own way, we will just become even more complicated because everyone, we can all define different concepts of accessibility, but
00:25:22
Speaker
but in the end we'll be more expensive, we'll be more difficult, we'll be changing, we'll be creating problems to each other.
00:25:28
Speaker
And in this case, I think collaboration is key.
00:25:34
Speaker
And also collaboration takes us also to the other point that is a very important topic, that is there is much more world besides Europe, even by far the main population globally doesn't live in Europe by far.
00:25:50
Speaker
And
00:25:51
Speaker
And here, I think one topic here that is important is to take events to these regions, because events really have a lasting impact.
00:26:06
Speaker
We can see, for example, in the case of football, in the cases of, for example, FIFA and UEFA, their most recent, for example, FIFA, their last male football World Cup,
00:26:17
Speaker
in Russia led to one disabled person who was employed afterwards by the Russian Football Union.
00:26:25
Speaker
And then this person organized a big, big improvement in the stadiums and accessibility of the Russian football stadiums.
00:26:34
Speaker
The same in UEFA, like the Euro 2016 in France, made that many stadiums afterwards in France included the audio descriptive commentary.
00:26:43
Speaker
So I think taking events to other parts of the world will help to create legacy there.
00:26:48
Speaker
And then I think it's also important to work on training.
00:26:53
Speaker
Work on training because DAEFs, they are the governing body worldwide, but then they have the confederations and they have the national federations.
00:27:03
Speaker
And at the grassroots level, DAEFs might contribute from...
00:27:08
Speaker
a more global point of view and more from the view from the events that they can organize in different parts of the world and can generate a legacy.
00:27:15
Speaker
But then there are more infrastructures besides the ones that are used in top events.
00:27:21
Speaker
And here, I think that is important a lot of like here, it's key training, training and having a strong connection between DAEF and the national, the national, different national federations.
00:27:34
Speaker
And again,
00:27:35
Speaker
collaboration, having even between, even only in the world of one specific sport, is important that the IFs and the NFs, so the National Federations, all have a common strategy for accessibility and they all work in the same way.
00:27:50
Speaker
So otherwise, it will be more complicated even.
00:27:56
Speaker
So Jose, in this future, we don't need to talk about accessibility anymore.
00:28:00
Speaker
We have a strong structure and we collaborate.
00:28:03
Speaker
This is your ideal future.
00:28:06
Speaker
But let's be a little bit more specific.
00:28:08
Speaker
If we close our eyes and we imagine a perfectly accessible sport event, how is it?
00:28:15
Speaker
So it will be a great event, definitely.
00:28:19
Speaker
And it will be an event that I would love to follow live.
00:28:22
Speaker
And no, so a perfect sports event.
00:28:26
Speaker
I think we didn't achieve yet.
00:28:28
Speaker
It's still to come.
00:28:29
Speaker
But it's an event that where first everyone
00:28:33
Speaker
can everyone can go without any limitation and here when I say can go without any limitation is even before reaching the stadium so so starts from the moment that I think I meant any person thinks and says I want to go to watch to this specific event and so the first step normally is to when you want to go
00:28:57
Speaker
to watch to an event is to buy a ticket.
00:28:59
Speaker
And here starts immediately with digital accessibility because if the website is not accessible, like if the website is not accessible, that's the first problem that a disabled person will face and here,
00:29:15
Speaker
I think immediately, for example, in the blind community and in the deaf community can also face some problems.
00:29:25
Speaker
Also, the colorblind and colorblind, it's, for example, 10% of the men worldwide are colorblind.
00:29:34
Speaker
And also 0.5% of the women are colorblind.
00:29:38
Speaker
So it's already a big group of people that might face problems.
00:29:43
Speaker
And it's not only buying the ticket and the website, it's understanding, like, to be able to choose, for example, the place of the venue or the stadium or the swimming pool or any venue where I want to stay.
00:29:56
Speaker
And also the possibility of being in any part of the stadium or of the venue, because sometimes we still see that disabled people...
00:30:06
Speaker
can go to, and here I'm talking more in people with limited mobility, can go to watch to the matches live or to the competitions live, but they cannot be near their families.
00:30:18
Speaker
They cannot be near their, they need to be in a specific zone of this.
00:30:22
Speaker
They cannot choose the place of the stadium where they,
00:30:25
Speaker
where they want to see even sometimes they are away fans and they need to be with the home fans.
00:30:29
Speaker
That's, that it's quite always a tricky situation.
00:30:32
Speaker
And there are many times.
00:30:34
Speaker
So the first step starts from the moment you, you want to buy the ticket and here,
00:30:40
Speaker
digital accessibility is key and is a topic that is still far from being perfect in the sports world nowadays.
00:30:47
Speaker
Then the second step is to go, how can I reach the venue?
00:30:53
Speaker
And here, it's not only dependent on the event organizer or in the club or in the national team or in the...
00:31:01
Speaker
or in the IAF, it's a topic that involves all the community.
00:31:06
Speaker
And here the cities, the local cities are also key players.
00:31:10
Speaker
And here, normally we can think, or I take my car to go, or I walk if I live nearby the venue, or I go by public transportation, that I think is probably the most common way people go to sports events.
00:31:25
Speaker
And here comes the second point, like if the metro or the bus or the train are not accessible, how can I reach?
00:31:35
Speaker
Or even if they don't have accessible Ubers or accessible cabs, how can I reach the venue?
00:31:41
Speaker
That's the second point that we need to think on it.
00:31:45
Speaker
Then the third point is from the point where the transport ends, because the transport never ends in the door where I enter in the stadium.
00:31:57
Speaker
From that moment and here, it's the third point that
00:32:01
Speaker
includes collaboration here a lot between the organizer of the sport event and the local authorities.
00:32:08
Speaker
It's how can I go from the place where the transport ends to being at my place in the venue.
00:32:16
Speaker
And here, for example, we see like some, this is even, it's not an IAF, but I think the example can be used.
00:32:23
Speaker
It's a football club, a professional football club.
00:32:25
Speaker
For example, Bayern Munich, like their stadium, the Allianz Arena in Munich, like the metro station is still quite far away from the accessible entrance for the fans.
00:32:39
Speaker
And they made a really innovative solution that they use golf cars to take some fans, even some elderly fans, some fans that have like
00:32:51
Speaker
limited mobility, and so they can go by, they organize a specific shuttle that picks these fans at the metro station, and I think it's around
00:33:03
Speaker
a few meters still, like 500 meters or one, it's still a big distance.
00:33:09
Speaker
And they take them directly to the accessible entrance.
00:33:12
Speaker
And that is a way that, for example, because it might seem not a lot to walk 500 meters, but for some people, it's huge.
00:33:22
Speaker
And also, and then there is the next step that is inside the stadium.
00:33:27
Speaker
And inside the stadium, there is still, here we need to think in this ability
00:33:33
Speaker
in a broad way.
00:33:34
Speaker
I think we need to think in disability in the broad way in all the steps, but in particular in this one that is inside the stadium, we need to think that there is sometimes a tendency to think, okay, disability, once I remember, I was talking with a person working for a
00:33:51
Speaker
Here again, not an IF, but the main football club, professional football club, one of the clubs that plays every year in the Champions League.
00:33:59
Speaker
And he was telling that his stadium was super accessible because...
00:34:04
Speaker
they have fantastic places for wheelchair fans.
00:34:07
Speaker
And that is great.
00:34:08
Speaker
And it's essential for wheelchair people who want to go to a match.
00:34:12
Speaker
But there are more types of disability besides reducing mobility.
00:34:17
Speaker
And here, for example, we need to think on the blind or partially sighted people.
00:34:24
Speaker
And then the topic here of audio descriptive commentary, even including an app that can help in terms of, for example, mapping the stadium so that
00:34:34
Speaker
the fans know where they can go to an accessible toilet, where they can go to the bar, where they can go to the club store to buy a shirt.
00:34:44
Speaker
Also, even including all the information in having them digitally so that blind people or partially sighted people can follow and know where they are going, where is their seat.
00:34:56
Speaker
Also, the fact that also here we need to think not only, we also cannot forget the deaf or hard of hearing people.
00:35:04
Speaker
And here I ask how many, in IF competitions, how many national anthems pass in sign language, for example.
00:35:12
Speaker
I know very few, even if none.
00:35:16
Speaker
It's very uncommon.
00:35:17
Speaker
Normally, we all like to sing or in the Olympic Games or in the main sports tournaments, we always like to sing our national anthem, but think in the deaf people that cannot sing it and they are excluded from that moment.
00:35:32
Speaker
The same to colorblind.
00:35:34
Speaker
Even nowadays, for example, here, colorblind awareness has been doing a great work in the most recent years.
00:35:41
Speaker
Even, I remember, it was in the ERO 2016,
00:35:44
Speaker
for the first time, was in the semifinals, was a match between Portugal and Wales, that for the first time, they choose their kids, so the kids that they were playing, and even they have quite similar clothes, colors, they choose in a way that they wouldn't make
00:36:01
Speaker
an issue for colorblind fans because it's quite embarrassing.
00:36:06
Speaker
And you know, sports is so much associated with colors, with all this thing.
00:36:10
Speaker
We always even associate the colors.
00:36:12
Speaker
It's a kind of identity.
00:36:14
Speaker
But for colorblind people, and here we are talking around again, in the case of men, it's 10% of the men are colorblinded.
00:36:23
Speaker
They need to... It's very... It's not nice if you cannot understand which color is your team.
00:36:30
Speaker
The same...
00:36:31
Speaker
The same with intellectual disabilities, that here is a key topic.
00:36:36
Speaker
We need to think, for example, in people with autism or with similar spectrums, that
00:36:44
Speaker
they might not feel comfortable in a very noisy environment where fans are all singing and jumping all the time.
00:36:50
Speaker
And here, for example, one incredible initiative developed by NIF that will take, in this case, it's FIFA, in the next World Cup, so in the next male football World Cup in less than two months in Qatar, for the first time, we'll have the sensorial room.
00:37:05
Speaker
So it's a room where autistic people and people with other similar spectrums can...
00:37:13
Speaker
can feel the match in an inclusive way without being scared or without being like not feeling well with all the noise and all the people together that is typical in sports big events.
00:37:30
Speaker
And then we also need to think that not everyone goes to the stadium.
00:37:36
Speaker
And even if the stadium is accessible, not everyone will go to the stadium.
00:37:42
Speaker
For example, I have many friends who are non-officially disabled people.
00:37:49
Speaker
and they love sports, but they say, I prefer to watch in TV.
The Importance of Accessible Broadcasting
00:37:53
Speaker
And that is, it is very, it's okay.
00:37:56
Speaker
It's a, it's a, it's a preference and should be respected.
00:37:59
Speaker
And here comes to another point is that we need to think on accessible broadcasting.
00:38:05
Speaker
And, and this is something that is still not in the point.
00:38:09
Speaker
Like there are being some experiences, but not in the point.
00:38:12
Speaker
And, and we need to make sure that,
00:38:16
Speaker
By far, more people normally watch sports events in TV than in the stadium.
00:38:21
Speaker
Only a minority goes to watch it live.
00:38:24
Speaker
And if you are, again, here, if you are a deaf or hard-of-hearing person and you want to watch to your team or your national team or any competition in TV...
00:38:39
Speaker
Normally, they are commentators all the time.
00:38:42
Speaker
We see sports commentators in all sports broadcasting events.
00:38:47
Speaker
But if you are there for hard of hearing, again, you cannot follow what they are saying and
00:38:56
Speaker
The same with blind people.
00:38:58
Speaker
Many people say that in radio, when they make the broadcasting of the sports events, okay, blind people can use the radio.
00:39:07
Speaker
But no, the way how they describe the events in radio, how they comment it, it's not an inclusive... It's made for people who have a visual idea of the thing.
00:39:18
Speaker
So it's a lot to be done.
00:39:20
Speaker
But I believe we are here to change the world and I believe we...
00:39:24
Speaker
when they will reach the ideal point where accessibility will not be a topic.
00:39:32
Speaker
Just to share a little personal story, recently I went to the concert and there was a sign language translator who was dancing and actually attracting much more attention than the performer himself.
00:39:41
Speaker
It was super and it was just an amazing experience even with people without disabilities and you are right.
00:39:49
Speaker
Thank you very much for describing this ideal event and pointing to some disabilities that it's true, you don't think every day.
00:39:58
Speaker
It's true, there is a lot of focus for the people with making events accessible for the people with reduced mobility, but there are a whole bunch of other disabilities that are totally ignored sometimes even in the narrative.
00:40:11
Speaker
And it's very important to pay attention to this as well.
00:40:16
Speaker
And you mentioned already, sorry, you were saying something.
00:40:19
Speaker
No, no, no, I was just saying sorry to interrupt, but even the sign of disability, normally you see the sign as a wheelchair person, but maybe I think one topic to reflect is, is that sign inclusive?
00:40:32
Speaker
Is that...
00:40:33
Speaker
how because there are more disabled people than wheelchair and even if wheelchair people should be deaf and we should make everything for them also to have an accessible experience but maybe even a nice topic for sports events is to consider in a sign that can definitely represent like represent disability because because maybe that sign
00:40:58
Speaker
only includes a part of the disabled people, not everyone.
00:41:02
Speaker
And sorry to interrupt.
00:41:04
Speaker
No, it's very important to mention this.
00:41:07
Speaker
But I think it's linking well to the next part of our conversation because we have an idea of ideal future, more or less, with all the rooms, with all your fan experience, with various types of disabilities.
00:41:19
Speaker
One question actually I had before, you mentioned about the Bayern Munich experience and their actions about
00:41:26
Speaker
bringing fans with some disabilities or with difficulties getting there by the golf cars.
00:41:31
Speaker
So in this case, do you know about their experience or other experiences if you have to warn in advance and kind of pre-book this service or if this service is available as an infrastructure there so you arrive and you for sure you don't even need to bother booking it in advance?
00:41:47
Speaker
It's a great question.
00:41:48
Speaker
And in the case of, in the specific case of Bayern Munich, like at least the last time I heard from them was a few years ago.
00:41:58
Speaker
And the way how they built it was like a shuttle.
00:42:00
Speaker
So you didn't need to book it.
00:42:02
Speaker
They organized like, so basically they do this golf course, do the both ways.
00:42:06
Speaker
So Metro station, stadium, and then go back.
00:42:10
Speaker
and so it's around 10 minutes like they do it every 10 minutes and I think they started like two hours before the match and goes until the beginning of the match and then and after the match they do the same thing they so they take back the fans to the metro station and by that time they didn't it wasn't a requirement to book it so so of course the the population that used was more or less the same but
00:42:37
Speaker
But they didn't need to book it.
00:42:39
Speaker
So it was like a shuttle.
00:42:40
Speaker
It was a free service also.
00:42:42
Speaker
So you just arrived by metro and then you wait maybe five.
00:42:48
Speaker
It was every ten minutes.
00:42:49
Speaker
So you wait a little bit and you catch the... It's like a complement of the public transport.
00:42:56
Speaker
At a different stadium, I've seen this service as well, was extended to families with proms that would come with the babies because they face the same issue.
00:43:06
Speaker
You can't carry the proms all the way up the stadium.
00:43:11
Speaker
And I think we go to the next part of our conversation and actually start moving backwards.
00:43:19
Speaker
What do you think, Donata?
00:43:22
Speaker
I think we've already started suggesting some steps and milestones, but let's be more concrete.
00:43:27
Speaker
Let's move ahead.
00:43:28
Speaker
Let's move backwards.
00:43:34
Speaker
So what are the important milestones in the pathway?
00:43:38
Speaker
So we are talking, José, I remind you from the future, going backwards to the present.
00:43:46
Speaker
So going back to the present, like I think so in future we should, like I think the main objective I think should be that in this case, like should be that every sports event and here ideally we are even focusing in IFs, but we also need to think also in national events, even in regional local events like grassroots, any sports event.
00:44:15
Speaker
is accessible for anyone.
00:44:18
Speaker
I think that anyone should... And this is something that is really touching for me because I love sports.
00:44:28
Speaker
I love to go to sports events.
00:44:30
Speaker
And I couldn't imagine having this barrier of having just because of some steps or because of a transport that is not accessible or because the stadium cannot accommodate me.
00:44:45
Speaker
I cannot even imagine, and I think that is our milestone, to make every sport event in the world accessible and that anyone who loves that sport can go to watch it.
00:44:59
Speaker
Thank you, José.
00:45:01
Speaker
I would like to bring you back to what you said before.
00:45:05
Speaker
In this ideal future, we have no limitations.
00:45:10
Speaker
We don't need to talk about accessibility, as you said.
00:45:12
Speaker
We have a structure and we have collaboration.
00:45:16
Speaker
What do we need?
00:45:18
Speaker
We have no limitations at all.
00:45:19
Speaker
What is needed to achieve this absence of limitations?
00:45:24
Speaker
This structure that you talked about, these collaborations, what do international federations or sport governing bodies have to do to reach these ideal scenarios?
00:45:34
Speaker
What is needed?
00:45:34
Speaker
It's a great question.
00:45:38
Speaker
I think one of the first steps was given a few days ago because I think also
00:45:46
Speaker
Of course, when we talk in international federations, even if they have a different structure, but I think we need to think in IOC, like, of course, and IOC, when we think, IOC is a little bit the umbrella of all these international, the umbrella organizations above all these international sports bodies.
00:46:07
Speaker
And...
00:46:08
Speaker
And I also gave an important step a few days ago in this area that for the first time in their most recent statement regarding equality and anti-discrimination in sport, they included the word disability as one of the key topics to be addressed.
00:46:27
Speaker
And this will lead us to...
00:46:30
Speaker
to believe that soon, like visibility will also be part of, will also be mentioned in the Olympic chart as one of the key aspects that cannot be, not be forgotten in the sports world.
00:46:44
Speaker
And I think that is definitely like a little bit the kickoff for, and even this school today, this podcast comes in a really right moment because that just happened a few days ago.
00:46:55
Speaker
And I think, then I think it's important that
00:46:59
Speaker
So I think here that it will be key that the IES and the IOC and the international, all the international sports world stakeholders, even here I'm including also the WADA, I'm including all the organizations, sponsors, partners, I'm including everyone.
00:47:20
Speaker
They should join together and they should make a common path.
00:47:23
Speaker
So I think more than having...
00:47:27
Speaker
30 or 40 different inclusion or accessibility strategies, we need to have one accessibility strategy that is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and adopted by all the international federations in this sports environment.
00:47:42
Speaker
And that is followed by everyone, because we need to have a similar path.
00:47:47
Speaker
We cannot, as I mentioned a few minutes ago, we cannot
00:47:50
Speaker
entering the risk of everyone going in a specific direction.
00:47:55
Speaker
So that is, in terms of structure, is to join everyone together.
00:47:58
Speaker
Maybe it could be a great idea to start, like,
00:48:02
Speaker
with a meeting just to address the topic, how even to create concrete guidelines even before working in the accessibility of the events.
00:48:10
Speaker
The first point is where will we insert accessibility within the topic of, within the, sorry, within the scope of the IFs because many times we see that people want to do, want to help, want to change, but this is a new world and they don't know how to start.
00:48:29
Speaker
They don't know if
00:48:31
Speaker
if they should start putting this as more as a CSR approach, or if they should do it more in the ticketing or event approach, or they should go more for HR employment.
00:48:43
Speaker
So I think the first point is to create concrete guidelines so that the IEFs can start working in the incorporation of the...
00:48:53
Speaker
accessibility in a broader way.
00:48:55
Speaker
And that is the first point.
00:48:57
Speaker
And then I think they, and even here, I think the IOC might have also an important role.
00:49:04
Speaker
And then I think it's important to collaborate.
00:49:07
Speaker
Like, as I mentioned, for example, if an international federation organizes, for example, the handball federation organizes the handball world cup,
00:49:19
Speaker
And then they use the arenas and they make the arenas accessible.
00:49:25
Speaker
If a few years after the Basketball Federation or the Volleyball Federation use the same arenas, as it happened so many times, to organize their World Cup in the same place, they don't need to invent everything again.
00:49:39
Speaker
They just need maybe to reach out to the other IAF that made before they're an event.
00:49:44
Speaker
and work with them in order to learn from their experience and to see if eventually they can improve it, but with the same base.
00:49:53
Speaker
And this... So I think that the first step is to define a space for accessibility within the IEFs, so...
00:50:03
Speaker
make sure that accessibility is seen in the same point of view by each IAF, so that if you go to talk with any IAF, they know what is accessibility and where should it be placed, and then start working in accessibility procedures.
00:50:21
Speaker
And I know I mentioned this word many times here today, but, and then collaborate.
Collaboration and Innovation for Accessibility
00:50:27
Speaker
And then collaborate because
00:50:29
Speaker
if we collaborate at the point, it will be easy to organize accessible events.
00:50:33
Speaker
Because normally, if I go to do it in a city that had an Olympic game a few years ago, they will be prepared.
00:50:42
Speaker
If I want to organize a football World Cup and I use a stadium that was used by the rugby for the Rugby World Cup a few years before, they will know how to work.
00:50:53
Speaker
So I think that should be the path, at least in my opinion.
00:51:02
Speaker
I like very much the point when you were talking about consolidating existing best practices.
00:51:06
Speaker
So for example, if one venue held the event, they should replicate the same practices to apply it to the different event happening at the same venue or the similar venue in a different location.
00:51:17
Speaker
Because it's true that sometimes we don't transfer knowledge or we don't know how to pack it to transfer it to another person.
00:51:23
Speaker
So some structure within this is needed.
00:51:27
Speaker
That's very interesting.
00:51:30
Speaker
the call for summit or meeting to collaborate.
00:51:35
Speaker
I wouldn't put it in a certain timeline this, I'm failing on it a little bit, but let's just pinpoint those actions that can be taken and actually the order maybe is not as important, although if we talk about today going towards the future, the most important thing is, as you said, is to consolidate this strategy, correct?
00:51:57
Speaker
Exactly.
00:51:58
Speaker
And to understand, like, to find a space, like a common space in each IF and even in DIOS, and in each, like, organization, like, let's say, international sports stakeholder to find a common place for disability and accessibility within each sports international federation.
00:52:18
Speaker
So that everyone, when we mention the topic, everyone knows what it is and everyone knows where it is, in which part of their organization is incorporated.
00:52:29
Speaker
And from there can, I think, and then have concrete guidelines, concrete guidelines regarding the incorporation of
00:52:38
Speaker
of disability and accessibility within the structures and then concrete guidelines towards the preparation of accessible events and competitions and all kinds of initiatives developed by IAFs.
00:52:50
Speaker
Because I think if we create, even for example, could be very helpful even like to have like a guidebook or a handbook where the IAFs, even people imagine if you enter in an IAF, you know immediately where this topic is
00:53:06
Speaker
and where it's placed in the structure of the organization.
00:53:09
Speaker
And when we go to organize an event, how should we prepare it with this component?
00:53:16
Speaker
So I think that, at least in my opinion, that will be very helpful.
00:53:22
Speaker
I think it's indeed crucial to consolidate this body of knowledge and the best practices that are already being implemented.
00:53:30
Speaker
Now, I have a question.
00:53:33
Speaker
There is a lack of knowledge among international federations, but there is a lot of knowledge developed by other civil society organizations.
00:53:41
Speaker
You mentioned before CAFI, for instance.
00:53:43
Speaker
So what other stakeholders could support international federations in this awareness journey, in this knowledge?
00:53:52
Speaker
journey?
00:53:53
Speaker
It's a very, very good question and a very, very important topic.
00:53:58
Speaker
And here I think that DAEFs shouldn't do this path alone.
00:54:03
Speaker
Even they should know with organizations that already work in this area, that have the expertise, even because
00:54:11
Speaker
This might be a new world for the sports, the International Sports Federations, but it's not a new world for everyone.
00:54:20
Speaker
And there are some organizations that have been doing some great, great work in this area.
00:54:24
Speaker
And here, I think, for example, in the area of accessibility, like, of course, CAFE in football is the first that came to my mind.
00:54:33
Speaker
They have been...
00:54:34
Speaker
being crucial to improve the accessibility in European and even internationally football stadiums, but also other organisations that have other kind of know-how that should be involved.
00:54:48
Speaker
For example, I'm thinking here one organisation that has a key role also here in some aspects is the International Committee of the Red Cross.
00:54:56
Speaker
And then also, we cannot forget that this area of accessibility is also an area changing every day because it's an area that is innovating.
00:55:07
Speaker
And as it's an area that is still not perfect globally, there is always space for innovation.
00:55:12
Speaker
And every year there are new solutions coming out.
00:55:14
Speaker
So we should be open to a branch of accessibility.
00:55:20
Speaker
of startups, of inclusive, innovative solutions that are coming out.
00:55:25
Speaker
And even here, like just very briefly, I would mention even that we are launching like in the coming days, we'll be launching a new initiative that even is made with this purpose.
00:55:37
Speaker
That is an initiative that will take place next year.
00:55:40
Speaker
So in March of next year in Amsterdam, and that will join, the objective here is to join
00:55:48
Speaker
sports organizations and here including of course also the International Sports Federation who want to improve in this area together with startups and with experts in different areas linked to sports inclusion and innovation that will be from
00:56:04
Speaker
from 13 to 17 of March in Amsterdam, building innovative solutions to solve specific issues that the sports organizations have towards inclusion and accessibility of disabled people within their events or their structure.
00:56:21
Speaker
So even here, I also launch if anyone is interested and if anyone sees any issue that would like to be solved by a group of experts in different areas linked to innovation, sports and inclusion.
00:56:37
Speaker
they can always come also to us and we will be glad to welcome organizations because in this case, the idea is really to join all kinds of know-hows in order to generate a better sports world.
00:56:50
Speaker
So more news will be coming out in the coming days, but this is also something that we are open to anyone who wants to improve in this area.
00:57:00
Speaker
I think Jose is to jump into the next part of our conversation even before we went there.
00:57:04
Speaker
So I suggest we go there right now.
00:57:13
Speaker
So, Jose, about call for action.
00:57:16
Speaker
What can be done already today and who should enable this change?
00:57:21
Speaker
You mentioned many different stakeholders and people who could, different parties who could participate in it.
00:57:27
Speaker
But if you say for the call for action today, right now, what would you say?
00:57:33
Speaker
No, it's a great question.
00:57:35
Speaker
And I think first, all of us have a responsibility in this topic.
00:57:40
Speaker
And we cannot say that the organization X or the organization Y is the one that should work on this.
00:57:47
Speaker
We all have a commitment to work on a better and a more inclusive and accessible sports world.
00:57:56
Speaker
And here, I think, normally I used to have always this motto that small steps lead to big achievements.
00:58:05
Speaker
And here, for today, and even before arriving to the ideal world where we'll not be talking about accessibility, but in a point where we still need to talk a lot about accessibility,
00:58:18
Speaker
I would say to start with small steps.
00:58:21
Speaker
So if each organization meditates in their next events and thinks in what they could do in a specific small detail to improve and to provide a better experience for the disability community,
00:58:37
Speaker
might be a small change for an IF and even something that will not have a big logistic or a big cost, but might be a big change for many, many people that will be able to follow in a better condition, a specific sports event.
00:58:52
Speaker
And here, like these small steps can be from...
00:58:56
Speaker
can be even start, for example, if you cannot already employ a disabled person to work in your structure, but maybe you can have a disabled person collaborating with you in specific events and in specific components of your organization, or even maybe you can have
00:59:13
Speaker
Maybe even if you cannot employ already an expert to work just in accessibility, but maybe you can give training to one of your staff or to one of your volunteers just so that they are aware of this topic.
00:59:27
Speaker
And if any concern or any situation comes out, this person can solve it.
00:59:32
Speaker
and can make a big difference.
00:59:34
Speaker
Or even if you cannot invest already in a sensorial room for autistic fans.
00:59:40
Speaker
That is an incredible thing, but it's not the most cheapest thing in the world.
00:59:45
Speaker
But maybe you can buy a sensorial pack that costs 50 pounds or 50 euros.
00:59:53
Speaker
and make already a big difference for intellectual disability fans or people with autism or similar spectrums.
01:00:03
Speaker
Or even if you...
01:00:06
Speaker
If you cannot have a frequency for all the country to do an audio descriptive commentary of your sport competition, but maybe even here the pandemic helped in something, then maybe you can do a Zoom call where you do the audio description.
01:00:24
Speaker
for all your blind or partially sighted fans.
01:00:29
Speaker
And even this topic of Zoom call, anyone should be ashamed because some of the big, big football clubs like Manchester City, for example, they used during the pandemic, they made their audio descriptive commentary for their fans through Zoom or Teams.
01:00:44
Speaker
And it's something so easy.
01:00:46
Speaker
You don't need even to have a frequency and...
01:00:49
Speaker
Of course, we all want to reach the ideal world where accessibility will not be a topic.
01:00:56
Speaker
And we should not take that from our minds and we should not take that aim from our objectives.
01:01:07
Speaker
But maybe we can start with smaller steps and then we'll see that if every year we incorporate each of these small steps, we'll see that at that point we made such an enormous difference in the lives of our disabled community and our disabled fans.
01:01:22
Speaker
So...
01:01:23
Speaker
so start with small steps it's really my my my recommendation and even if anyone following this this podcast would needs any any support and him and him has any query they can come to us at any time also cafe i have i'm talking here on behalf of them but i i have i'm sure that they will be they're an incredible organization and they they will be very supportive and other ngos like in particular even some of them in
01:01:54
Speaker
in like a national based organ organizations and focus in a national scope will be open to to help and to collaborate for a more a better and more inclusive sports world
01:02:09
Speaker
Jose, you gave us so many inputs, but I suggest we wrap up here our conversation today.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
01:02:17
Speaker
There is a lot that you said that I think is worth mentioning.
01:02:22
Speaker
First of all, this is a human rights conversation and we should not forget about it.
01:02:27
Speaker
And it's also opportunities, opportunities for the stakeholders involved.
01:02:32
Speaker
There are some opportunities that perhaps international federations and sport governing bodies are underestimating, but there is a lot to work on, as you said, also with these initiatives with startups to tap into new solutions.
01:02:46
Speaker
This conversation is about removing the limitations.
01:02:50
Speaker
So this ideal future has no limitations.
01:02:53
Speaker
And I really like that there is a structure and there is a lot of collaboration among the key stakeholders to drive this positive change.
01:03:02
Speaker
One final thing, what I learned today is that there is a lot to learn, but I also think that our listeners today know whom to talk to, to get more insights and to get more knowledge.
01:03:16
Speaker
Jose, thank you so much.
01:03:19
Speaker
Would you want to add anything to this, Sasha?
01:03:21
Speaker
Jose, have I missed anything?
01:03:24
Speaker
just thank you for this opportunity and and for giving me the opportunity to share this passion and and this path that we on which all of us as as you mentioned that all of us need to work to to to have a more more inclusive and accessible sports world thank you very much to both of you thank you
01:03:44
Speaker
Thank you, Jose.
01:03:45
Speaker
I also learned a lot today.
01:03:46
Speaker
It was interesting to hear about what we always come back in all the conversations is learn from the best practices, learn from what already is done.
01:03:56
Speaker
Do not reinvent the wheel.
01:03:57
Speaker
So I like the idea of doing it and starting acting, start to act from all perspectives, from the top of umbrella organizations, from the top of the top, start what you can do already today within your existing structures.
01:04:12
Speaker
And do not ignore this topic and then involve external stakeholders that can help you to move forward.
01:04:18
Speaker
This was very important that what I've noted for me today, I have three pages of notes because I think we should summarize and write it down somehow because it cannot just stay in the audio form.
01:04:30
Speaker
And I think what was the most interesting for me is the word that you repeated 10 times or maybe 20 times, collaborate, not to forget about it.
01:04:41
Speaker
I think it's very, very important.
01:04:44
Speaker
And within this collaborative mindset, I think we should wrap up our conversation today.
01:04:49
Speaker
And thank you very much, Josef, for being with us today.
01:04:52
Speaker
And I think this brings us to the end of our show.
01:05:07
Speaker
Thank you for listening to this podcast.
01:05:09
Speaker
Check out our website scoresport.com and our LinkedIn page to find more information about this episode and what we do and about Jose and what he is doing and about their projects.
01:05:24
Speaker
all main podcast platforms.
01:05:27
Speaker
Please rate, comment, and share.
01:05:29
Speaker
This will help us a great deal.
01:05:31
Speaker
Stay connected.
01:05:33
Speaker
And remember, nobody can score alone.