Football: Toulouse relies on sports audio description
On March 31, 2019, during a match against PSG, the TFC was the first French club to offer an audio description system to its visually impaired supporters. Abandoned with the pandemic, this device is relaunched this year. With ambition.
At first glance, nothing distinguishes them from the other media present in the press gallery. Helmets screwed on their ears, microphones in front of their mouths and technical sheets under their eyes, Corentin Cougoule and Camille Cassaigne, 23, look like two lambda sports commentators, responsible for bringing the match between Toulouse Football Club to life through their words. at FC Lorient, played yesterday at the Stadium.
But beware, the two friends work for the town hall of Toulouse and the TFC, and their comments are not like the others. They are audio-descriptive, intended for blind or visually impaired supporters.
Make football a little more universal
What is the difference with a match transcribed on the radio? “We are the eyes of those who listen to us. Our task is to describe absolutely everything that happens on the ground, with a higher than normal degree of precision, explains Corentin Cougoule. For example, we constantly describe the body attitude of the player, the foot that strikes the ball, the effect of the ball, etc. We focus exclusively on the field, and very little on the atmosphere, the public or the sides of the match. And the most important: locate each action on the lawn, and in the stadium. »
Practical example. Instead of saying “magnificent return”, it will be necessary to say “he made a chest control with his back to the goal in the box, then he dropped to kick the ball with his left foot and send the ball into the right corner , just in front of the East Stand”.
A way to bring some disabled supporters to the stadium. “They say that football is the most universal sport, so you have to adapt your follow-up to everyone,” insists Corentin Cougoule. During the meeting, the rate of speech is brisk, the silence non-existent and the attention, each commentator is in charge of a team to give an additional benchmark to the users.
And what about the main ones described? At the Stadium yesterday afternoon, Arnaud and his friends Yohann and Maëllann, all three with visual disabilities, came to watch the match in the bend of the Indians, the Toulouse ultras, after removing their box which they will use to listen to the comments adapted. ” It’s perfect. We are at the stadium, it sings and in addition we have what we usually miss, namely what is happening on the ground, thanks to the comments ”explains Arnaud, Toulouse supporter for 15 years. “I had already tested the device in 2019 and I am coming back for the first time this year,” he continues.
Because yes, if sports audio description is rather rare, in Toulouse, it is not a novelty. The Pink City was the first in France to put this in place in 2019 in partnership with the TFC. With Corentin Cougoule already at the helm: “It all started with a group project when I was in college in September 2018. We were asked to change the world on our scale. With four fellow sports fans, I very quickly thought of audio description. We approached the town hall and off we went,” smiled the young man.
With a little luck, the city already had the necessary equipment, boxes, remnants of Euro 2016. After getting back into shape, the town hall and the students then contacted the TFC, which responded immediately. On March 31, for the reception of PSG, the adventure was delivered. “Until the confinement, we developed the project by also commenting on Stade Toulousain and Fénix Handball matches, it really served well,” explains Cougoule.
But after 27 audio-commented matches, the Covid ruined everything. Corentin Cougoule: “It left us with a big taste of unfinished business. So this summer, I was a candidate for a stage at the town hall of Toulouse, with the idea of relaunching the machine”. Well he took one.
The town hall accepts and recontacts the TFC. “We immediately re-signed because we have a very strong culture of accessibility here, as evidenced by our involvement in our blind football team” underlines Manon Lombard, project manager at the club’s foundation. As a result, audio description is back this season at the stadium, and will be evaluated. “From the next match against PSG, we leave the boxes for a system via a phone application. Everyone will be able to benefit from it, and it can help popularize football for those who do not know too much. And we live other sports! » argues Corentin Cougoule.
Another advantage: no more technical bugs. Because yes, against Lorient, the old boxes showed their limits, turning off, for lack of charge, in the middle of a match.