Visually impaired fans get hi-tech goggles to watch sports in France

A headset that takes images from live TV feeds and transforms them into brighter lights displayed directly to the working part of the retina is helping visually-impaired people enjoy live events in France.

According to the team behind the innovation, GiveVision, around one in 30 people cannot see at live events because of their visual impairments. 

Many still choose to attend to cheer on their team or soak up the atmosphere, but GiveVision hopes its technology, which works like highly optimised binoculars, will make the experience more immersive.

Currently audio description is how most visually impaired fans follow games, listening to live commentary and joining in with the cheers of the crowd.

Read more: App lets blind hikers explore France

Watch the match or just one player

The headsets, which are worn like goggles, have two modes: TV mode allows wearers to follow the live TV feed, while zoom mode lets them concentrate on a particular player.

GiveVision works with clubs and event organisers to make the vision enhancement systems available to fans at no cost.

The company was originally launched in the UK in 2014 but has since moved to France, explains its French CEO Elodie Draperi.

 The first tests took place with Paris Basket in 2022, and it was used at a Ligue 1 game for the first time in November 2023. The goggles have also been used for the Premier League, the French basketball league and Wimbledon. 

“You can progressively zoom in until you can really see the player, even if he's on the other side of the pitch. Simply put, I can see,” said Clermont Foot 63 fan Paul.

Around 10% of visually impaired people can barely, if at all, see light, so the headsets are not a solution for everyone, but they should benefit the rest of the visually impaired population.

 The idea is to continue developing the technology, which can be optimised for each pitch and stadium.

Partnerships make goggles free for fans

Cost is the main obstacle to their deployment, so GiveVision is focused on forging partnerships with clubs, sponsors and venues to set up the systems and ensure they remain free to use for fans.

It is planning to expand its work with the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), continue its partnership with Paris Basket, as well as explore other avenues. “For now, we are mostly based in Paris but the plan is to spread throughout France,” said Ms Draperi. 

“The advantage of the tool is that it can be used for any sport, so we are keen to develop it in a variety of sports and to have permanent set-ups in stadiums.” 

More than half (51%) of the company’s profits are reinvested into research and development: “The priority for us is to make sure the product evolves and that we can continuously improve it.” 

See givevision.net for more information.