Paris, 11 May 1998

The World Cup in Braille

Many visually disadvantaged and blind people are among the millions of football enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the World Cup in France. For these supporters, spectators or TV viewers, the French Organising Committee for the World Cup and the HandiCapZéro organisation have compiled a brochure in Braille, which will enable them to stay up to date with the main FRANCE 98 developments. This project has been backed by Arjo Wiggins and France Telecom, two World Cup commercial affiliates. The brochure, written in French, will provide a thorough breakdown of the event: an editorial by Fernand Sastre and Michel Platini, the CFO Presidents; a look back at past World Cups from 1930 to 1994; a run-down on the 32 FRANCE 98 teams and the 10 stadiums; the groups, and the match schedule. In France, there are around 110,000 blind or partially-sighted people. Braille, the only form of writing accessible to them, is understood and practised by 40,000 of them. Since it was founded in 1987, the HandiCapZéro organisation has striven to make visually disadvantaged persons more autonomous by providing them with access to the written word. With the publication of this brochure, Fernand Sastre and Michel Platini's desire to put on a World Cup "for the largest number of people possible" takes on yet another highly tangible dimension. The FRANCE 98 brochure in Braille will be available as from 18 May by calling HandiCapZero on their toll-free number 0 800 39 39 51.