See the gate - Article from Integracja

31 May 2011

Article submitted by CAFE Polish Partenr - INTEGRACJA.

Article writen by Integracja's Press Officer: Tomasz Przybyszewski

Published on Integracja website on 28/04/2011

Until recently a wheelchair user’s participation in football matches in Poland usually meant being stuck on the field near the goal line from where the view is not brilliant, it rains on your head and you can get hit by a football. Awarding Poland and Ukraine an organisation of European Football Championship 2012 is an opportunity to make a significant step towards making stadiums more accessible. Will this opportunity be fully taken advantage of?

What is essential for disabled supporter? - The most important aspect is the possibility to have a selection of places within a stadium, which are safe and where view is not obstructed by people in front of you, but also not having to watch a match from the pitch level – explains a wheelchair user Piotr Parus, a president of the Disabled Supporters Club Silesia Wrocław.

Silesia Wrocław supporters, photo: archive of the Disabled Supporters Club Silesia Wrocław

It seems quite simple. UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations) understands these needs and leaves the contractors no choice. The candidates organising EURO 2012 knew very well, that EURO stadiums had to be accessible for disabled people. The regulations, however, were quite general.

Full reception
CAFE (Centre for Access to Football in Europe), UEFA partner, who works to make football stadiums available for disabled people, came forward with much more specific directives. First of all, according to CAFE, in a stadium with 40,000 seats at least 210 should be designated for wheelchair users (plus two more seats for each thousand that follows); these seats have to be sheltered from rain and from a football, so the field level is out of the question.

Seats designated for wheelchair users should be located in different sections of the stadium so that disabled people could sit with their own fans. Stands should be flexible enough so that the supporters could sit with their families or friends. The seats should be elevated because if all the other supporters during an emotional part of the game stand up, they will obstruct the view of those who are not able to stand up from their wheelchairs.

- There are people who need assistance so extra seats are needed – emphasised Joyce Cook, the chief director of CAFE, during the last year’s visit in Poland. - The distance that disabled people have to cover cannot be too long; it also refers to the driveway from the car park and lifts. Blind people also need specific adaptations.

It concerns audio description, among others, which is a commentary about the match transmitted to a headset – it is much broader and more accurate than a TV or even a radio transmission. It isn’t enough to say “it was a beautiful goal”, you have to describe precisely what it looked like. The commentator must talk about everything in the right way, not only what’s happening on the pitch, but also in the stands, e.g. where the Mexican wave starts. Also, it allows a full reception of the event.

Information also has to be adjusted for disabled people – websites, marking of the stadiums; also, staff needs to be trained. In addition, there must be an adequate number of accessible toilets and low counters in bars and shops to allow wheelchair users to do shopping.

Is this going to happen at stadiums built for EURO 2012? Unfortunately not, although it needs to be emphasised that CAFE’s directives for the organisers of this championship are more signposts than compulsory conditions. We examined four main Polish stadiums – in Warsaw, Gdańsk, Poznań and Wrocław.

A promenade and a shed
At the stadium in Gdańsk the seats for wheelchair users were built in two corners of the upper promenade – 25 seats each and the same number for accompanying people. If this is the case, will the disabled people be able to sit in different sections of the stadium so that they can sit with their own fans? – Such an option was not available – replied Dawid Szpinek, the Manager for Commercialization in the Bureau of Euro 2012 Development Gdańsk. The answer to the question if low counters in bars and shops will be accessible is the same.

The seats for wheelchair users are sheltered and on elevated platforms, so non-disabled supporters standing up from their seats will not obstruct the view. There are five disabled toilets on the upper promenade and one next to the VIP restaurant and in the Fun Pub. There are 13 disabled parking spaces with access from Marynarki Polskiej Street. As 50 stands for wheelchair users in the facility with the capacity of 42,000 is not really enough, 30 additional seats for the EURO 2012 Championship will be organised, unfortunately on the pitch level. The toilets for supporters sitting there are located in the containers placed in the tunnel on the same level.

Photo: www.sxc.hu - stand at Poznan stadium

Photo: www.sxc.hu

There are 50 seats designated for blind people in the lower stand in section I (southern stand). On the lower promenade, near these seats, all signposts and rooms marking will be written in Braille. However, according to Dawid Szpinek, “there are no designated areas for guide or assistance dogs. Blind people can enter the stadium with an accompanying person”.

The stadium in Gdańsk is not prepared to receive VIP guests and commentators using wheelchairs. Only one VIP level restaurant is available to them. The presence of disabled commentators is not as abstract as it seems. In this year’s FIFA (not UEFA) recommendations regarding stadiums were that “at least two commentary positions” should be available for disabled commentators.

It’s not a theatre
It was proven in Wrocław that it was not a utopian idea, where the media stand will have designated seats for disabled people. There are 102 seats for supporters using wheelchairs in the stadium and the same number for their assistants. These are located on level 1 with the entrance directly from the promenade, which is 5-6 metres above the pitch. However, at first it wasn’t taken into consideration that standing supporters will obstruct the view of wheelchair users.

- The architects sometimes think that a stadium is a theatre and everyone will remain seated – ironically said by Paweł Parus, whose club will normally play at the stadium which is being built. – The project intended a different solution, but thanks to the talks with the architects we managed to change it and now we have a suitable elevation – he explains.

This is an excellent example of the need to consult disabled supporters themselves, when designing the stadiums to be built. As can be seen, architects are not infallible. The disabled Silesia supporters explained in detail what they expected and what the designated places should look like. As a result the seats are “evenly distributed around the whole stadium” – assures Magdalena Malata, the press spokeswoman for Wrocław 2012 company. It will also be possible to sit with own fans.

Under the esplanade and in the multilevel car park there are disabled parking spaces. In some kiosks there are low counters. On the level of 1st promenade there are ten accessible toilets, equipped with alarm systems in order to call for help when necessary. For about 80 hard-of-hearing supporters there will be an area equipped with induction loops which will reinforce information transmitted at the stadium.

Wheelchair spaces will be located on two terraces in the business club. Theoretically it has a capacity of 18 people with their assistants, but “there’s a probability that people standing in the last row adjacent to the terrace will obstruct the view. It means about 46 seats which would have to remain unoccupied” – explains Magdalena Malara.

Silesia Wrocław supporters, photo: archive of the Disabled Supporters Club Silesia Wrocław

Disabled Silesia Wrocław supporters can congratulate themselves. They made their views heard, and although just above 100 seats for wheelchair users at a stadium with the capacity of 43,000 spectators is still too few considering CAFE recommendations, thanks to Paweł Parus and his friends’ initiative, there won’t be any causes for complaint for the seats being built. It shows that architects don’t stick to their decisions and want to consult their projects.

- But who can architects turn to? – asks Paweł Parus. – Us, as a Disabled Support Club we were an example that there was someone to turn to – he emphasises.

Unfortunately, the truth is that such clubs are hard to find in Poland. The one from Wrocław which operates in the form of an association was founded at the end of 2008. It does not only look after the interests of disabled Silesia supporters in Wrocław city, but also regularly sends 2-3 full minibuses into Poland for away matches that their team plays. What’s more important for disabled people whose financial resources are limited – it’s all free thanks to subsidies from public funds.

- We go to matches to motivate ourselves, overcome barriers, to give people who don’t leave their homes a chance, to instil passion – explain Paweł Parus. – Our goal is not only to go to the section and support. We enjoy meeting up, experiencing the journey, showing people places, where they might not ever return to again.

Just above the field
The association of supporters from Wrocław is planning to support groups of disabled supporters from other cities all around Poland to organise themselves. There is more and more evidence that there are people out there who are interested in such action, and their results are surprising.

- It turned out that if there is someone who looks after disabled people, suddenly more people are interested – says Piotr Parus. – And 5-10 wheelchairs per match has turned into a group of about 50 disabled at the moment who regularly come to Silesia stadium in Oporowska Street.

This is a perfect argument in the discussion with those who still think it makes no sense to build several hundred seats for disabled people because they won’t ever get filled anyway. The British also have a proof of that this argument isn’t true. – We estimate that in Great Britain about 30,000 disabled supporters regularly attend matches – says Joyce Cook. – We assume that many more would like to come. It shows that stands in many matches are not filled, and we want to use them for the disabled.

Poznań prepared itself to receive more disabled people. At the stadium (capacity 46,000 spectators) there are as many as 266 seats for disabled supporters including 40 people with vision and hearing dysfunctions and 186 for wheelchair users. There are 141 seats for accompanying people. However, it’s not all good news. Unfortunately, the location of many seats for wheelchair users is old-fashioned – they are located near pitch sidelines, downstairs along the stands II and III which supporters don’t particularly like. – You can’t see much from just 0.5m about the field – explains Paweł Parus who has attended a match in Poznań.

However, the remaining seats (on 2nd level of the stand IV) has been built in a way that standing supporters will not obstruct the view. Also, low counters in bars and shops will be in place, as well as a possibility to receive assistants other than other perosn. – It’s possible for a disabled person to bring a guide dog – assures Joanna Janowicz-Strzyżewska, the director for marketing communication in the EURO 2012 Poznań company.

Stadium in Poznań, photo: EURO Poznań 2012

By the lifts for the disabled there are signs in Braille. The stadium’s website is adapted for the blind. There are no seats for disabled commentators at the stadium at the moment. Is it better in VIP boxes? – The boxes can be adapted to the needs of disabled people depending on the needs of a particular client – replies Joanna Janowicz-Strzyżewska.

Doggy toilet
The seats on the field level are not only Poznań’s problem. Paweł Parus went to a Poland-Germany European Football Championship 2008 match in Klagenfurt. The situation there was similar - the seats were so low that the view was partially obstructed by a security guard standing on the field.

- But let’s just say: the stadium in Klagenfurt was built just for three matches of the European Championship – comments Paweł Parus. – I suspect that this solution for the disabled is to cut the cost.

Vienna stadium offers a much better solution and the seats are much better than in Klagenfurt, but Lisbon stadiums are splendid – all disabled seats are located more or less at the mid-height of a stand. There are lifts and ramps with adapted toilets – he explains.

Is the arena of the Polish EURO 2012, the National Stadium in Warsaw, going to look as splendid? 106 seats for wheelchair users and the same number for their assistants for the capacity of 55,000 spectators is not very impressive. However, there are no seats located on the field level – they are on protruding, elevated positions around the stadium, on the level of the lower promenade.

- The stand gradient guarantees good view from the platform for wheelchair users – assures Robert Wojtaś, a vice-chairman of the National Sports Centre board. – Seats for the disabled people will be located around the stadium. A supporter in a wheelchair will have a chance to watch the game from different places of the stadium.

The stadium does not have a facility to organise extra seats for wheelchair users if the need arises, but VIP boxes are available. There are no facilities for disabled commentators. Disabled parking spaces are located in the garage under the field with direct access to the stadium by a lift. 10 disabled toilets have been planned, catering facilities have low counters, and the project of the information system considers supporters with disabilities, including the blind. For the latter, another need was also taken into consideration. – A guide or assistant dog will be able to accompany its owner throughout the game – says Robert Wojtaś. – At the moment we are not planning to designate toilets for dogs, but it will not be a problem if we see this as necessary.

With audio radios
All stadiums have plans to install audio-description equipment for the blind. Poznań has entered talks with companies offering various solutions in this area, and for the duration of the championship UEFA will provide this type of equipment.

- 30 sets of audio-visual commentary will be installed at every stadium. They will be operated by local volunteers – explains Monika Chabior, the coordinator of PL.2012 Project on Social Responsibility, a company owned by the state treasury which coordinates and supervises the championship organization – he explains.

The stadium in Poznań, Photo: EURO Poznań 2012

The commentary is going to be available in Polish, Ukrainian, English and the languages of countries playing the match. – Since we are not able to provide the audio-visual commentary in all languages, we are going to sign agreements with radio stations, which will provide radio commentaries in different languages – says Monika Chabior.

These devices will remain there after EURO 2012, as well as trained commentators. However, after the championship the decision as to whether audio-description will remain available will depend on particular stadiums.

However, most importantly, the adapted stadiums will remain after EURO 2012. They might not have world-class accessibility; critics say they will be quite simple. But it still looks like we’re making up for several dozen years.

British model

Arsenal London Stadium, in the front of the photo: Alun Francis, Arsenal’s plenipotentiary for disability, at the back from the left: Dorota Adamczyk, Elżbieta Korczyńska, Hubert Gorczyca, Wojciech Karpieszuk, Krzysztof Ziemiec, Dorota Starzyńska

Alun Francis, Arsenal’s plenipotentiary for disability
Arsenal London has long-standing achievements in adapting the stadium and services for all disabled supporters. The move to a newly built Emirates Stadium in 2006 allowed the club to provide an even higher level of accessibility and facilities for all disabled supporters.

There are over 240 seats for wheelchair users at the facility. They are located on the platforms, on each level of the stadium, including the exclusive “Club Level”. There is also a platform for wheelchairs for away supporters. There is at least one seat for a disabled fan in each of 150 VIP boxes, which increases the number of wheelchair users to over 300. Counters in all snack bars are lowered to wheelchair level. You can enter the stadium using one of the wide entrances for wheelchair users and other disabled supporters who cannot use turnstiles. Under the stadium there is a car park where at least 104 disabled supporters with parking permits can park for free on the match day. There are eight lifts at the stadium which go to every level including the car park.

There are over 100 seats for ambulatory disabled supporters – using sticks, blind and partially sighted. The club provides specialist commentary free of charge, thanks to which blind and partially sighted supporters can enjoy the match. All seats have enough room underneath for guide or assistant dogs of blind and partially sighted supporters. There is also a toilet for guide or assistant dogs (the first one in all the Premier League clubs).

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See the gate - Article from Integracja

31 May 2011