Olympiacos presented the audio description service for the blind

The possibility to make use of the audio description service in the matches that will be held at “G. Karaiskakis” gives to the blind o Olympic.

The “red and white” held a press conference regarding the project, which is run in collaboration with the Panteion University of Political and Social Sciences.

In detail what the relevant announcement states:

PAE Olympiacos pioneers and becomes the first team in Europe, which will offer visually impaired people the audio description service for all matches at the “G. Karaiskakis”, in collaboration with the Panteion University of Political and Social Sciences.

Something that was officially presented by PAE Olympiacos at a press conference held on Tuesday (28/3) at “G. Karaiskakis”, in the presence of the 4th Vice President and General Manager of PAE, Kostas Karapapas and the CSR manager, Nikos Gavalas. The Rector of Panteion University, Professor Christina Koulouri, and the blind lawyer, member of the Board of the Athens Bar Association and president of AMKE “Me Alla Matia”, Vangelis Avgoulas, were also on the panel.

After the end of the press conference, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between PAE Olympiacos and Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.

The audio description service is going to be put into operation for the first time in “G. Karaiskakis” in the upcoming match between Olympiakos and Aris, in the 2nd matchday of the Stoiximan Super League play-offs. An innovative move that makes Olympiakos the first team in Europe to enable visually impaired people to watch a football match with audio description on an equal basis.

At the team’s matches there will be specialized staff consisting of professors of the Panteion University of Political and Social Sciences for the needs of the description. At the same time, in this direction, the training of students of the Department of Media and Culture Communication (MCO) has also started, who will actively participate in the description and the complete, understandable by blind people, oral recording of the games.

The students of Pantei University who will describe the games are Manos Aggouridakis, Vangelis Valavanis, Vassilis Voutsinas, Vassilis Gouzelos, Stelina Dardougia, Alexandros Constantonis, Chrysa Margaroni, Raphaela Mitropoulou, Nikos Naoum, Sofia Sakaveli, Izabela Tougli, Antonis Chalas, Ayandas Charonitis and Martha Choriannopoulou.

The goal of this innovative project is in every match in the “G. Karaiskakis” to make the experiential experience available equally through Audio Description Commentary to people with visual impairments. This humanitarian action will help visually impaired people to participate equally in watching the match and supporting their favorite team.

In this way, the expected and desired benefit lies in ensuring the rights and fundamental freedoms of people with disabilities and their equal treatment, while combating stereotypes, prejudices and exclusionary practices regarding the disabled.

In this way, the exclusive expectation of the program, which lies in the fact that people with disabilities should have the right to enjoy measures that ensure their autonomy, professional inclusion and participation in the social, economic and cultural life of the country, is transformed into practice. country.

The CSR director of PAE Olympiacos, Nikos Gavalas, took the floor initially and said: “Today is an extremely important day for all of us in the Olympiakos family, as we are pleased to announce the implementation of the audio description service for people with visual disabilities at all of our team’s matches at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. Olympiacos becomes the first team in Europe to permanently offer this service, which is implemented thanks to the collaboration with the Panteion University of Political and Social Sciences. For all matters concerning the improvement of accessibility to the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium for people with disabilities, our president, Mr. Vangelis Marinakis, shows particular sensitivity and practically supports every relevant initiative.”

The vice-president and general manager of PAE Olympiacos, Kostas Karapapas, emphasized: “It is very pleasant to have such press conferences, with this subject. It proves that the club and all of us are taking a step forward, in the right direction. Mr. Marinakis has chosen to carry out procedures at stage “C. Karaiskakis”, so that there is accessibility for all people who want to be close to Olympiakos. From such actions and actions, people who are stronger than us come to us and we gain strength. I am glad that you will all enjoy the race.

Olympiacos presented the audio description service for the blind in collaboration with Panteion University. https://t.co/4uXZRTAMdb

— Olympiacos FC (@olympiacosfc) March 28, 2023

It is an action that has been prepared for a long time. We are happy that it is starting and we hope that it will develop in various guises and in various sectors. To have more and more people around us who maybe at some point thought they couldn’t come to our stadium, but they will be able to be and we really want it. We are not trying to distribute power, we are asking for power from these people. When I met Mr. Marinakis, the first thing he told me was that beyond football, he is interested in making sure that all the love that the team receives is returned in some way. Let’s return it to everyone, not just the Olympians. To any man in need, to any man who needs a hand to hold. There are daily actions by PAE Olympiacos and by Mr. Marinakis, after all, this strategy and all this social policy, which no one knows about, is his own decision. Olympiacos is the only team that has a sacred word in its name, which is Syndesmos. This holy word is eternal in relation to us and the world.’

The Rector of Panteion University, Professor Christina Koulouri, said: “Pantheon University of Social and Political Sciences considers public intervention in favor of vulnerable social groups and the promotion of policies of equal access for its students as its strategic choice. At the same time, it strengthens the initiative and creativity of students through actions such as Radio Pantheon. We are therefore particularly happy about our collaboration with Olympiakos, because we offer a service to people with visual impairments while making use of Radio Pantheon. Besides, the memorandum of cooperation with a team like Olympiacos gives our University an important opening to society and we prove that we are a modern academic institution that leaves its mark on the region”.

The blind lawyer, member of the board of the Athens Bar Association and president of AMKE “Me Alla Matia”, Vangelis Avgoulas, pointed out: “I was born blind. I have never seen the colors, my people, or even myself in the mirror. And yet now I will be able to watch Olympiakos literally, whenever I want. The initiative of PAE Olympiacos comes to secure and defend a constitutional right of the blind citizens of this country: The equal participation of every fan in sporting events. Olympiacos now sets the bar high pan-European and forces journalism and sports to stand permanently at the height of social circumstances. It is not possible to love a team and because we do not see that we cannot enjoy its moments at the same second that all other sports fans are happy or sad with it. In 2019, I myself met in Piraeus the president of PAE Olympiacos, Mr. Vangelis Marinakis. Among other things, he asked me how I feel about Olympiakos. I answered him: “President, I want to feel even closer to him.” Mr. Marinakis answered me: “What can I do about it?”. We started talking and I told him something very simple. That if he decides to go to the stadium, a blind sports fan will pay for the ticket and a companion to have support and a description, as much as possible, of the match. In front of me, Mr. Marinakis got on the phone and immediately gave an order and the decision of PAE Olympiacos was published for the blind fans who buy a season ticket, to automatically be given another ticket as a gift, so that we can choose any companion we want, whenever we want, during the seasons. and get closer to our favorite team. Today we are launching an initiative that is here to stay.”

Angeliki Gazi, Assistant Professor of Media Psychology and Technology in the Department of Communication, Media and Culture, said: “Radio has been characterized as a “blind medium”. It is the medium composed of sounds and silences. It is precisely this acoustic form of communication that makes radio a medium capable of direct and extended public address. Radio is the medium of community and inclusion. PAE Olympiacos had the specific idea to create radio/audio content for visually impaired people. The students of Radio Pandeion Sports, led by Mr. Vassilis Voutsinas, made the first contacts with PAE Olympiacos. The timing was happy and we are starting to present the first results today, here. On behalf of Radio Pandeion and Radio Pandeion Sports, we thank PAE Olympiacos for this new path we are starting together. Always aiming for a better world. A world for more”.

Brief presentations were made by Thanasis Palos-Papantonopoulos, Head of Education at the Audiovisual Studio of the Department of Communication, Media and Culture, and Michalis Lolidis, accessibility consultant, who participated in the training of the students, as well as Christos Koromilas, member of the Board of the Lighthouse of the Blind of Greece and of the National Disabled Sports Federation, Secretary General of the center “Guide Dogs for the Blind of Greece” and open sea world champion in the inspiration category and 5 km, who said: “I don’t see 15 years. My biggest complaint is that I couldn’t come to Karaiskakis to see Olympiakos. Now this problem has been solved for me and I am very happy.” Three Panteion students who will do the audio description also spoke.

Initially, Vassilis Voutsinas noted: “I want to thank PAE Olympiacos for giving us access to the stadium. We wanted to take steps forward, evolve and challenge this opportunity. We wish for other similar collaborations”. Vangelis Valavanis said: “The famous director Pier Paolo Pasolini had said that football is the last sacred ritual of our time. Olympiacos, with its action today, proves that it continues to be the secret of this sacred ritual and is approaching its 100th anniversary”. Nikos Naum added: “We faced technical problems, but now we are all proud to have achieved something like this.”

HOW TO SECURE A SEAT BY PEOPLE WITH A VISUAL DISABILITY



In each match, Olympiacos will host 5 blind people with their companions in the press booths, who will enjoy the audio description of Olympiacos’ home games, which will be made by students of the Mass Media Department of Panteion University, using headphones. successfully attended a relevant seminar.

At the same time, the description will be uploaded to the internet radio of Panteion University, Radio Panteion Sports, in order for the link of the broadcast to be “shared” in the communities of the blind in Greece, but also abroad.

As with the disabled who face mobility problems and therefore use special wheelchairs, so also with the blind, PAE Olympiacos will issue an announcement a few days before the matches about the availability of seats and then an announcement about the exhaustion of seats. Those interested will contact the PAE call center on a specific day and time that will be announced in the announcement.

The entrance of the blind and their attendants will be through the entrance door of the journalists. So they will be able to use the elevator for easier access to their seats.

To clarify that the provision of PAE Olympiacos to the blind who choose to buy a season ticket will be maintained in the next period, as their companion will get a free season ticket.