CAFE recently attended a meeting with FIFA, the 2018 FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and local Russian disability organisations, to discuss accessibility at the upcoming tournament.

CAFE, FIFA and the LOC, together with McDonalds and ARENA representatives met on Monday in Moscow with non-governmental organisations that work on accessibility-related issues.

Established by FIFA in early 2017, the aim of this Accessibility Working Group is to discuss and improve access for disabled people at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

"The accessibility working group is an important tool to ensuring an accessible and inclusive FIFA World Cup. This meeting enabled FIFA, the LOC, CAFE and local experts in access and inclusion to celebrate the successes and learn from the challenges of the FIFA Confederations Cup”, said CAFE Managing Director Joanna Deagle.

Joanna added, “We will now continue to work closely together towards a FIFA World Cup for all."

Based on FIFA's requirements and recommendations for FIFA World Cup stadiums, FIFA, the LOC in Russia and CAFE have been working on making the 2018 FIFA World Cup accessible to all. The measures being implemented include:

  • Infrastructure solutions (e.g. parking areas, rest points, dedicated entrances, routes, seating, toilets)
  • Services (e.g. ticketing, wheelchair loan services, live audio-descriptive commentary), and
  • Disability awareness training of stadium volunteers to provide adequate information and assistance to all spectators.

In each stadium and for all matches, FIFA offers a dedicated allocation of tickets for purchase by disabled people and people with limited mobility.

These "Special Access Tickets" are available in four categories, namely (1) Wheelchair User, (2) Easy Access Standard, (3) Easy Access Amenity, and (4) Obese Person. All Special Access Ticket holders (except obese people) will be offered a complimentary ticket for a companion to assist them before, during and after the match.



A version of this article is also available in Russian.

Published 02/10/2017