Betano, Sparta Prague’s general sponsor, played a key role in this distinction by funding the initial accessibility report that guided the club’s improvements and helped shape its long-term inclusion strategy.
As part of the programme, Betano and Sparta presented a cheque for 500 000 CZK to the non-profit organisation Znakovárna, which provides Czech Sign Language interpreting services for the club. Starting with the match against Teplice, Sparta, Betano and Znakovárna will begin long-term cooperation to produce and regularly present pre-match program videos interpreted into Czech Sign Language at every home game of the first team.
“The Access Champions recognition was created with the real needs of fans in mind. We assess how a club thinks about accessibility, how it implements it in practice, and how it maintains a high standard throughout the season. Sparta has demonstrated a systematic and consistent approach across areas ranging from infrastructure and matchday services to community engagement. This recognition confirms that accessibility is part of the club’s identity,” said Olivier Jarosz, CEO of AccessibAll.
The Access Champions programme evaluates clubs comprehensively, including stadium infrastructure, fan and community engagement, digital accessibility, matchday services for home and away disabled fans, as well as leadership and education in inclusion. The first club to receive this certification was Club Atlético de Madrid in May. Sparta now follows as the second club in the world and the first in Central Europe to receive the Access Champions certification.
“The AccessibAll award confirms that we’re on the right path. We focus on concrete steps that bring immediate benefits to our fans. We thank Betano for its support and cooperation, without which many of these measures would not have been implemented to such a high standard. Our vision is for every fan, regardless of their personal requirements, to feel comfortable and safe at Sparta,” said Irena Smetanová, Sparta’s CSR Manager.
In recent seasons, Sparta and Betano have implemented numerous measures to improve the accessibility of epet ARENA for disabled fans. The stadium has been equipped with audio navigation beacons for blind and partially sighted visitors. Wheelchair platforms have been expanded, and capacity for away wheelchair fans has been increased. The club has also optimised its digital environment to make it clearer and easier to navigate for fans with specific requirements. Since autumn, guided stadium tours have been organised regularly – for blind and partially sighted fans in odd months and for deaf fans in even months. For blind fans, the club provides audio-descriptive commentary in cooperation with Livesport, accessible through individual receivers. The pre-match program on the big screens now includes subtitles, and a sign language interpretation of the pre-match summary is also provided.
We are glad that, together with Sparta, we are making the football experience accessible to all fans with disabilities. We rely on practical solutions that truly make a difference in the stadium — from navigation beacons to expanded barrier-free areas and enhanced matchday services. Our ambition is for every fan to fully enjoy the game,” added Adam Srb, Betano’s Marketing Manager.
Sparta and Betano will continue to develop its cooperation with community organisations and international partners, expand the use of Czech Sign Language interpreting and closed captioning, continuously improve the digital environment, and strengthen matchday services. The goal is to make accessibility a permanent standard within the club’s environment.
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