Watch the video below to see how they helped their friend experience the world cup.
[rumble video_id=va4mi domain_id=u7nb2]
Video credit: Rumble
People know Brazil for its fantastic holiday destinations, its beautiful women, Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ), and the Amazon jungle. But one other thing Brazil is known for is its love of soccer which is why the World Cup is such a big thing.
Even fans who are not hardcore enough to actually go and watch a game in the stadium will avidly follow the match on TV in their living room or in the bar and will equally cheer or cry (depending on how their team fares) with as much fervor as the fans who are watching the game in person. These World Cup games generate as much excitement as an NBA playoff game in the US so it’s easy to see why people are so hung up on it.
Carlos is one such soccer fan but the thing is, he’s both deaf and blind so he lacks that two senses that give the full impact that the sights and sounds of a hard-fought soccer match can bring. But it doesn’t make him any less enthusiastic.
What Carlos has going for him though are two friends who used their resourcefulness and ingenuity so that they could give him the experience of “watching” a live World Cup match. One of these friends is Brazilian sign language interpreter Helio Fonseca de Araujo whose flash of inspiration would change the way Carlos enjoys the game.
Helio decided to try the new method he came with on the Brazil-Croatia match. He constructed a hand-made replica of a soccer field and used it to let Carlos know where the players were and used sign language via tactile signing to “commentate” on what was happening as the match progressed. His other friend Regiane stayed at Carlos’ back to update him with more detailed information on fouls, cards, and jersey numbers via social-haptic communication.
It was an amazing team effort that gave enough life to the story for Carlos to actually get worked up himself about the progress of the game. The best part was when Brazil finally managed to score a goal and Carlos started celebrating with Helio and Regiane.
This was an amazing display of dedication and friendship that goes beyond the excitement of a major game. It was a life-changing moment that gave a person a glimpse into the world that other people experience and the world is definitely a better place because of it.