Following the Euros as a blind person
Euro 2020 got underway last Friday with Italy taking on Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. With the tournament lasting for exactly one month, football will be headlining the agenda for millions of people from across the European continent. The blind and vision impaired are no different. But a question I have been asked a lot recently is how I will be following the Euros as a blind fan?
Radio or television for blind fans of the Euros?
As mentioned in previous blogs, vision impairment is a broad disability meaning that there isn’t a ‘one size fits all solution’. In my case, I will be following the championships by listening to radio commentary. Though being in front of the television with my family/friends would be more sociable, British television commentary is not detailed enough for me. If the game is on the BBC you can replace the TV commentary with the radio one via iPlayer. However, following a game can be a challenge if there is lots of noise.
Which radio station to choose?
In the UK, major international tournaments are covered by two radio stations – BBC Radio 5 live and TalkSport. As both stations cover all matches, it’s a question of personal preference. I personally always go with Radio 5 Live, as I find their commentary and analysis easier to follow. Another reason is that the BBC Sounds app is much more accessible for the blind than the TalkSport app.
The role of podcasts
Radio commentary is great in the moment. However, podcasts are another lifeline for me in terms of ensuring I get all the pre-match build-up and post match analysis. In this respect, 5 Live’s Daily Euros podcast is in a league of its own with the cutting-edge analysis of pundits such as Karen Carney, Pat Nevin and Chris Waddle combined with the unrivalled insight of foreign journalists such as Guillem Balague, Raphael Honigstein and Julien Laurens.
Whichever way you decide to access the Euros, I hope that you really enjoy the tournament and that your chosen team does well!
