Even the slightest noise echoes through the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Paris, France. The venue is packed. At times, it’s hard to tell. Such quiet never falls in most sports venues. But blind football (American soccer) features athletes with visual impairments. It and goalball (a sport designed specifically for visually impaired players) are the two silent sports at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
A soft voice from the loudspeaker reminds the crowd: “Shhh. Shhh.” The whistle blows, and the restless crowd quiets.
Keeping the crowd quiet makes sense when you consider that without sight, a blind person depends more on the sense of hearing.
Balls in both sports contain rattles or bells. Their noise alerts players to a ball’s approximate location. Players yell to each other as they cross the field.
To allow players to hear teammates, opponents, and the ball, rowdy fans must contain their excitement until the ball is out of play.
Fans not used to these sports may feel awkward navigating the new rules. To ease the tension, a goalball commentator lets spectators know when they are allowed to speak.
“Noise,” a commentator announces. Unsure at first, the cheering crowd slowly increases its volume.
During halftime and between important plays, a runner takes the blind football field. The runner carries a large sign that reads “GET LOUD!!!!”
Even with the official go-ahead, some new fans sit confused.
“It’s kind of funny because I think people in the stands . . . don’t know when to cheer, but I know the game,” says Eliana Mason. She’s a Paralympic goalball player. She also frequently supports her fiancé, fellow Paralympian and goalball player Calahan Young, at his matches. “It’s silent, [and I’ll yell] ‘Let’s go!’” she says. “People look at me and I’m like, ‘It’s fine, I know when I can cheer and not cheer.’”
When cheering is allowed, it is thunderous. Spectators from the Netherlands agreed that when it happens, the applause is much louder than in non-silent sports.
“I have the idea that you are with them in the game when they score,” says Dutch fan Jamie Koudijs at his first silent sporting event. “We all go crazy, like, ‘You did it!’ Because they can’t see what they are doing.”
The quiet-then-loud dynamic can distract competitors. Jeferson “Jefinho” Goncalves, Brazil’s star blind football player, says it can be difficult to get the ball if the crowd fails to shush at the right time. But he is hopeful that these problems will lessen as blind football grows in popularity.
Blind sports cultivate a unique environment. Without constant chatter and chanting, fans put their energy into focusing on the field of play. Jefinho says he and his teammates feel the crowd’s energy.
French fan Jade Sidot says blind football demands a different degree of attention.
“My dad and I go to some football games,” says Sidot, referring to her experiences at able-bodied games. “[Blind football] is very different, but at the same time, I am more focused.”
One element many fans comment on is the feeling that their silence equals respect—not only for the players but also for the sports themselves.
“I think the energy is the same,” says Sidot. “Even though we have to stay silent, I can feel that people are still really excited to be here.”
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. — Romans 12:10
