"Visual professional baseball fans laugh again" On-site live broadcast service resumes
Jul 12, 2024
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Last summer, with the efforts of Kim Ye-ji, a former blind pianist, a real-time broadcasting support system for blind professional baseball fans was first operated. Baseball is one of the blind people's 'favorite' sports. However, as radio broadcasts have been replaced by mobile apps, there is a 'barrier' of time delay. As the situation was belatedly recognized only 15 seconds after the crowd shouted, the blind person was alienated from real-time cheering and could not enjoy the intuition properly. After watching baseball with the visually impaired at Gocheok Dome in 2022, Rep. Kim began legislating the 「3 Act on the Right to Watch Sports for the Disabled」, and on May 25 last year, a bill to amend the Sports Industry Promotion Act to improve the cultural enjoyment and access to information for the disabled passed the National Assembly plenary session. A new provision has been established that requires the state and local governments to provide legitimate convenience for the disabled when implementing various policies to promote the sports industry. It also specified special administrative and financial support to guarantee the right to watch sports for the disabled. Since August 4 last year, three stadiums in Jamsil, Sajik, and Gwangju have provided 'voice support services for blind visitors' and blind professional baseball fans cheered. However, with the start of the new season, the real-time voice support service for the blind has disappeared without much noise. As the KBO budget decreased, the newly created service disappeared. The dedicated landline number for device rental has also become 'nonexistent'. Blind fans who enjoyed the short happiness of intuition at the ballpark were greatly discouraged. This was the first part that Rep. Kim, who was re-elected in the general election in April, took care of after breaking the fishing port. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also set up an emergency budget to support KBO's resumption of services.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 12th that it will launch a relay voice support service for blind visitors in 2024. To be clear, it's not the beginning, it's 'Reopening'. The on-site inspection will be joined by Rep. Kim Ye-ji, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran, and KBO President Koo Hu-yeon. It is not felt at all by non-disabled people, but for blind people who love professional baseball, real-time broadcasting is an essential service that is indispensable for enjoying baseball. All policies related to the disabled should not be judged by simple data or efficiency, such as the number of visitors. Even if a single disabled person visits the ballpark, they should be able to enjoy the right to enjoy baseball. The real-time broadcast service that almost disappeared has returned. Vice Minister Jang, who is serious about sports for the disabled, will experience relay voice support services with blind baseball fans at Jamsil Baseball Stadium and check the operation status together.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has established a relay voice support service since last year and operated it at three stadiums (Jamsil, Sajik, and Gwangju) to create a viewing culture without discrimination between the disabled and the non-disabled. Blind people can feel the vivid on-site atmosphere and enjoy baseball games by listening to television broadcast voice in real-time through a dedicated terminal installed in the stadium. 'This year, we will expand online and offline promotion using Nuri communication networks and stadiums with KBO and clubs so that more blind people can use the service. The service user may make a reservation in advance through the dedicated wired number 1666-0720 and request that the terminal be delivered to the seat. It is also possible to apply on the field on the day of the game.
Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran promised that `I hope this professional baseball broadcast voice support service will increase the accessibility of the visually impaired to sports' and"The Ministry of Culture will work harder to create an inclusive sports viewing culture that everyone can enjoy together.'
Reporter Jeon Young-ji, sky4us@sportschosun.com .
sky4us@sportschosun.com
