With UEFA EURO 2016 kicking off on Friday evening, we thought it would be nice to share some photos and stories from disabled fans enjoying the Finals alongside their fellow fans.

At each host venue, a golf buggy service has been implemented to assist disabled fans in entering and exiting the stadium. In Nice, the buggy operators went one stage further by getting in the spirit of the tournament and creating a train of golf buggies at full time. This meant that disabled fans could exit the stadium in a unique style alongside other UEFA EURO 2016 fans.

We have also received some great photos from disabled Welsh fans enjoying their match against Slovakia. The fans were hugely positive of the facilities in Bordeaux, and had a great view of their country’s first ever match in the UEFA European Championships. We are glad you had such a positive experience!

We also have received photos of disabled Turkish fans enjoying their match against Croatia in Paris. Although their team didn’t get the result they wanted, disabled fans told us that they still had a great time.

In the build up to the Finals, CAFE has trained media and broadcasting students to deliver audio-descriptive commentary for partially sighted and blind fans at each match during the Finals.

Partially sighted and blind fans have been very complimentary about the service so far, with a fan in Lille describing the service as “very good”. The audio-descriptive commentators themselves are also having a hugely enjoyable tournament, and have taken great pleasure and pride in providing the service. Keep up the great work!

Disabled fans have praised the dedicated UEFA EURO 2016 Respect Access for All volunteers, who are providing assistance for disabled spectators inside and outside the stadiums.

CAFE has appointed mystery shoppers at each game during the Finals, who have been reporting any teething problems and ongoing issues in the expectation that they can be fixed during or after the match.

A few disabled fans have also contacted us about issues that they have faced in the early games, and we are working hard with the organisers to ensure a welcoming experience for all. We urge all fans to show respect for one another, and particularly to ensure that their experience doesn't negatively affect disabled fans and their views of the pitch.

A version of this article is also available in Russian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, French, German and Spanish.

Published 13/06/2016