The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is setting a new standard for media services with the launch of Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) at the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.
This groundbreaking technology, a first for a CAF tournament, is revolutionizing how accredited journalists access multilingual content during press conferences.
For the first time in CAF history, and among the first for global sports organizations, journalists covering the tournament across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda can now receive real-time audio interpretation in multiple languages directly on their mobile phones.
This eliminates the need for traditional, bulky headsets and receivers, simplifying the process and enhancing accessibility.
The system works by providing journalists with a QR code that gives them access to the live interpretation through a web browser on their own devices and earphones.
Each language has a dedicated channel managed by professional CAF interpreters, ensuring seamless and accurate communication.
According to Luxolo September, CAF’s Head of Communications, this is a “transformational step” that positions CAF as one of the world’s most innovative sports organizations in terms of language access.
“With RSI, no journalist will miss a message due to language limitations,” he said, emphasizing the technology’s commitment to innovation and inclusion.
Patrice Godonou, CAF Language Services Manager, highlighted the practicality of the solution. “It is simple, cost-effective and above all, accessible, allowing journalists to follow and record in real-time using only their phones and earphones without the need for complicated on-site equipment,” Godonou added.
This initiative is part of a broader push by CAF’s Communications Division to improve media services at CHAN 2024. In addition to the RSI, CAF has enhanced Wi-Fi access, digital content distribution, and extended matchday media operations to support the over 800 accredited journalists covering the event.
As the tournament moves into the quarter-final stage, this new technology is helping ensure that African football’s message reaches every corner of the continent and the world.
