Fans with sensory needs are able to be part of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ excitement in a safe and comfortable environment. The tournament’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) has set up sensory rooms at three stadiums: Al Bayt, Lusail and Education City. The spaces allow fans to watch matches in a quieter space, equipped with assistive technology and managed by expert staff.
The sensory rooms were first introduced during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and continue to be a pivotal feature in the tournament’s accessibility strategy. For Jassim Al-Jaidah, LOC Sustainability Communication & Stakeholder Manager, making the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ accessible to everyone is a key priority for organisers.
During match days, children, parents and teachers were able to access the sensory room prior to, during and after the match, allowing fans extra time to acclimatise to their new surroundings and avoid crowds when entering and leaving the stadium. Sensory rooms are fitted with controlled lighting and interactive projections to engage the senses and create an inviting and stimulating internal atmosphere. They open up to a row of dedicated seats, from where fans can enjoy the match proceedings and interact with the crowd at their own pace.
In addition to sensory rooms, the LOC offers audio descriptive commentary in Arabic for blind and partially sighted fans. All stadiums have wheelchair-accessible seats as well as seating options for fans with limited mobility.
Qatar is hosting the AFC Asian Cup™ for a record third time after successfully hosting it in 1988 and 2011. Twenty-four of the continent’s best teams will compete for the continent’s most prestigious football title. A total of 51 matches will be played across nine stadiums, with the final set for 10 February 2024.
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Source and cover image credit: Press Release
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