Industrial robot manufacturer to construct the first football stadium dedicated for people with disabilities in Shizuoka Prefecture

From NHK

August 17 2022

SHIZUOKA – The first football stadium dedicated for people with disabilities in the prefecture will be built on the site of a factory being constructed by an industrial robot manufacturer in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at the headquarters of IAI, an industrial robot manufacturer in Shizuoka City, on 17 January.

The stadium will be designed with the opinions of players and disabled people in mind, including the installation of fences required for blind football, which is played by visually impaired players, with the aim of starting operations in spring 2013.

The facility will be operated mainly by disabled football associations in the prefecture.

In addition to a dedicated clubhouse, the facility will have spectator seating for more than 150 people, and is being considered as a place for various people to interact, not only to watch the games, but also to regularly hold hands-on events. The facility will also be used as a place for various people to interact with each other by regularly holding trial sessions.

In Shizuoka Prefecture, seven types of football for the disabled, including ‘blind football’ and ‘amputee football’ played by people with hand and leg disabilities, are actively practised by various organisations, but until now there have been no dedicated facilities, and securing a place to play matches and practice has been a problem. However, until now there have been no dedicated facilities, and securing a place to play matches and a training ground has been a challenge.

According to the Japan Football Federation for the Disabled, such dedicated facilities are rare in the country.

Masakatsu Setowaki, chairman of an organization that manages and promotes football for the disabled in the prefecture, says: “With the construction of the stadium, we hope that many people will be able to see and participate in football for the disabled from now on.”