Italy–South Africa with audio description for the blind (7 November 2026)
Date of the event:
On 7 November 2026 the Allianz Stadium in Turin hosts the rugby match between Italy and South Africa, the reigning World Champions, part of the first edition of the Nations Championship. For this match, the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) activates, for the first time at one of the national team's home matches, an audio description service for blind, visually impaired and sight-disabled people, available both at the stadium and from home.[1]
The service
The audio description is provided through Connect Me Too®, the system developed by CMT Translations, which entrusts the match commentary to a specially trained professional. The narration is not limited to the action on the pitch, but also describes what happens on the bench, the crowd's reactions and the stadium's atmosphere, with the aim of offering an immersive account to those who cannot see the match.[1]
The background
The service draws on the experience gained by the FIR with the Six Nations in Rome, where audio description has been offered for some years. The 2026 Nations Championship, the first edition of the tournament bringing together twelve national teams, provides for two more home matches for Italy with the same service: against Argentina at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa on 14 November and against Fiji at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine on 21 November.[1]
Statements
Leonardo Ghiraldini, FIR federal councillor with responsibility for social responsibility, calls the initiative «a concrete step» towards rugby accessible to everyone, both at the stadium and from home. Tony D'Angelo, head of the Connect Me Too® project for CMT Translations, notes that audio description is making its way «with increasing continuity» into major sporting events, not as an add-on service but as part of the experience offered to the audience.[1]
Sources
- TorinoOggi — 2 November 2026