Sport: Inclusion on Every Field Thanks to Telepresence

Sport embodies many values: respect, commitment, self-improvement, solidarity… These values radiate through sport to the whole of society. That’s why inclusion in sport is so important. Salim Azouzi, Awabot’s Director of Strategic Relationships with the largest French and international sports organizations, explains why sports have a special place in Awabot’s daily life.

“Sport is the world’s largest field of expression, regardless of the discipline. It generates emotions and sharing through highly engaged fan communities. Experiencing a sporting event telepresence behind the scenes, through interaction with the athletes, gives an unimaginable dimension to inclusion. The athletes and staff are so caring that the experience becomes unforgettable.

When we present our system, the first reaction we get from all the sports organizations we work with, whatever their decision-making level, is: “It’s brilliant! It’s fantastic!” and it becomes even more so when we get into the details of the project. The way it’s organized, the way the robot is welcomed on site, and above all, the magic with which the connections and interactions operate… All this creates immense satisfaction among all the parties involved, whether it’s the child, the families, the caregivers…

For the Awabot team, it is a tremendous feeling of accomplishment. Finally, whether we are doing a “small” local sports event or the World Cup final in Qatar, the emotion is always the same. Inclusion really comes into its own when the kids connect with the athletes, whether they are local champions or global stars.”

Football, the first sport to adopt telepresence

Football is the most widely played and followed sport in the world, and its popularity continues to grow. It is therefore only natural that some European clubs have sought to make matches accessible to all, including fans who would otherwise be unable to get to the stadiums. Olympique Lyonnais was a pioneer in this area. Equipped with a telepresence device customized in the club’s colors since 2016, the device enables hospitalized youngsters to be as close as possible to the players from training to the match, including a visit to the changing rooms. Many other football teams in all competitions have followed OL’s example:

The deployment of telepresence robots in football continues to grow. As a result, these devices can be found at prestigious matches such as the World Cup Final in Qatar and the Champions League Final in 2022. The latter was made possible by close collaboration between Awabot and the UEFA Foundation:

F1 commits to greater inclusivity through telepresence

In the F1 paddock, it’s not unusual to see young motor sport fans strolling around in telepresence. For two years running, this initiative by the Formula 1 organisation has been making the sport more accessible and inclusive. Around a hundred fans, prevented by illness or disability, have been able to realise their dream of experiencing an F1 Grand Prix weekend. Some of them had the opportunity to interview their favourite drivers via telepresence, like Ewan and Charlie, who are big fans of Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas respectively:

Tennis: more inclusive tournaments

Thanks to the initiatives taken by the federations, some tennis fans have been able to meet the world’s greatest players. This was the case for Marius, who, connected from his hospital room to a BeamPro® telepresence solution, was able to meet Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev at the last Rolex Paris Masters. More recently, it was at Roland Garros that young people were able to meet some of the most talented international tennis players of the moment, such as Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, or the head of French tennis Amélie Mauresmo.

Meeting of the French rugby team in telepresence

Strong emotions are also transmitted telepresence around the oval ball. The French rugby team offers an enchanted parenthesis to its supporters with illnesses or disabilities. They can go behind the scenes of the French rugby team’s matches, from the players’ changing rooms to the pitch. Clara, 11, who is hospitalised at the Léon Bérard Centre in Lyon, was present on television at the French players’ match last April. Before the match, the young girl from Savoie was even greeted by the French women’s national team and the 18,000 spectators in the stands. All the more heartening for the young teenager.

The TED-i programme and sport

Very recently, telepresence robots took their first steps in the NBA, the leading American basketball league. Awabot, a partner of Rudy’s Kids, a foundation created by French NBA player Rudy Gobert, enabled the Minnesota Timberwolves to open their doors to several American and French children for two games. Lij Crafton, an 18-year-old from Martinique, was able to meet one of his favourite players, Rudy Gobert. The young man had no trouble getting around the aisles of the Target Center in Minneapolis, as he uses the facility on a daily basis to attend classes thanks to the TED-i programme run by the French Ministry of Education and Youth.

Handball gives telepresence a go

Handball is also trying its hand at telepresence. Graham, a 14-year-old HBC Nantes fan, spent an entire afternoon in telepresence alongside the players. And it may well have had an impact on the morale of the players, who beat their opponents from Limoges that evening. This was the first social telepresence initiative in the world of French handball, and it was made possible by the telepresence robot from the LEAF (Leucémie Espoir Atlantique Famille) association.

Promoting inclusion and accessibility at major events is a major societal issue. Beam® telepresence solutions, which transcend on-site presence through a robotic and mobile avatar, could solve part of the equation. Would you like to find out more about our expertise and solutions? Get in touch with us!