May 10, 2021
There’s nothing quite like a live sporting competition for creating a sense of occasion: The tension in the crowds, the dreams of athletes coming true; the hopes of a nation in the balance. From my own experience, even a blind man listening to commentary can get pulled in by the excitement of fans as the competition reaches a climax.
But without the screams of a capacity crowd willing their heroes on, can the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics still make for a special occasion? I fear that, for a blind person listening to the commentary without the atmosphere of a crowd, the drama may be rather muted. Imagine a description of a 100-meter sprint, stripped back to the bare essentials: “The athletes crouch down. Bang! They’re running, they’re running. And the Jamaican has won! Now, here’s a word from our sponsor.”