00:04S1
This is Studio 1 on Vision Australia Radio.
00:09S2
Hello and welcome to the first of two episodes of Studio 1 from the International Blind Sports Association's 2023 World Games here in Birmingham.
00:20S1
This is Studio One on Vision Australia Radio.
00:46S3
Hello, I'm Sam.
00:47S2
And I'm Matthew.
00:49S3
And this is Studio One, your weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view here on Vision Australia Radio.
00:55S2
On this week's show, I'm at the University of Birmingham here in the United Kingdom, reporting from the International Blind Sports Association's 2023 World Games. So there are 1150 athletes from 70 countries gathered here to compete across ten sports.
01:12S3
That's right, Matthew. And the stakes are high, particularly for competitors in the men's blind football, men's and women's goalball and judo. As the games are qualification events for the 2024 Paralympics.
01:26S2
That's right Sam. As we always say at this point, please do get in touch with the show. Whether you have experience of any of the issues or topics discussed on this week's episode, or if you think there's something else we need to be talking about, you can email Studio One at Vision Australia, Talks at Studio one at Vision australia.org and Goodbye Twitter. I'm not doing that anymore. I saw somebody today in the papers. Right. Something about, um, you. A statement was released on X and it was about a, it was about a football manager getting sacked. And it's like, that doesn't sound right. It doesn't sound like a thing. And again, I'll probably complain that, yeah, I'll probably complain the next time they change the name as people, as you know, a new software systems that people use go into workplaces. They complain about how bad it was until five years later when it gets changed and they complain about the new one.
02:20S1
This is studio one on Vision Australia Radio.
02:25S2
Hello there Sam.
02:27S4
Hola.
02:28S2
Um, thank you very much for digging me out of a hole last week. I really appreciate it. Uh, yes. The internet went down and the carpet installers arrived at my new flat just as we were going to air. And thank you very much for for making sure that the ship continued sailing, even though I wasn't able to help.
02:46S3
The carpet seems to have made a difference, though you're not quite so echoey, I.
02:49S2
Feel warm, I feel like I'm in a home, not in Abu Ghraib anymore. It's lovely. Um, we do have some sporting things to talk about before we get to the Olympics. I think you now know what it's like to be an England football fan. As you know, whenever I get in, a taxi driver will ask me, oh, you're from England. Which Premier League team do you like? And I'm not really. I'm mostly football immune, but once every two years or so, there's either the World Cup or the Europeans. And we go in going quietly going, I think we could win this. And then within two weeks, there's the crushing disappointment of being beaten by a team we really should have beaten. I guess that's like the women's football last Wednesday for you, Sam.
03:32S3
Sort of, except for one thing, is that Australia is ranked number ten and, uh, we finished the tournament fourth. So anything beyond, uh, the quarter finals is actually a major bonus. I mean, there was crushing disappointment and then everyone's sort of come and jumped on board and, uh, slapping heartily the, uh, ladies as the because they've gone further than they've ever gone before.
03:54S2
Spoken like a true athlete, always putting the spin on a loss. Um, I, we, we were quite happy with second, I think a bit better than we deserved. Meanwhile, here in Birmingham, you of course, are more naturally aligned to this week's particular show than I am. I think you're probably jealous that it's me doing this, not you.
04:13S3
Oh, yes. Extremely. Because you get to experience the atmosphere of the village, to hang out with a whole lot of interesting people and not have done a single bit of training for it. I mean, that's, uh. I wish I could have done the same thing.
04:24S2
Yeah. Yes. You've been what's it like as a competitor? What's it like representing Australia? Is it is it pressure?
04:29S3
It's uh, it's a whole lot of different things, really. Um, it's a whole lot of experiences that you really. It's very difficult to describe to people, uh, you get to do a lot of things that you wouldn't have done before, but also you're traveling the world, and sometimes it's the most boring trip you can ever go on. So I've seen a lot of countries, but I've seen a lot of athletics tracks and airports belts. Um, but, uh, every now and again, you do get lucky enough to go out and do things. And usually when competition is finished, if they don't just fly you out straight away, then you get to experience some of the local culture. And and I'm hoping for the athletes sake here, because it is a second tier competition for a lot of the sports here, that that's some of the opportunity that these athletes are going to get is to just experience the city of Birmingham themselves.
05:21S2
Yeah. I'm sorry, it's Birmingham. Um, but uh, we'll see what happens as the day progresses. And I will keep that in mind. Now, of course, to demonstrate even better, uh, how much more you're aligned and excited about this. You've actually got some results for me. What's happened?
05:38S3
Well, the cricketers have been looking after both of us. So the ladies in their very, very first international game have. One against England, which is extraordinary. I mean, this team wasn't around about 12 months ago. So then they've their very first international competition. They've won. But alas, um, the men have not done the same thing and they have, uh, lost to England. So if you do come across Michael Dennis, do not make any quaking.
06:05S4
Noises, but you won't be too happy.
06:07S3
Oh, really? What his individual result was?
06:10S2
Oh, no. Oh, I shall try and be gentle with him. Right. Gentle listener, here I go. This is, uh, my adventures at the University of Birmingham, at the International Blind Sport Association's 2023 World Games.
06:27S1
This is studio one on Vision Australia Radio.
06:33UU
This station is university.
06:37S2
So fortunately, I managed to track down Michael Zane's, uh, mic and get him to agree, uh, to be interviewed by me. We arranged to meet at the Athletes Village, the accommodation on the Birmingham University campus where the athletes are staying. And on the way, I managed to stumble across some live sport. Here is the sound of Austria versus Thailand in the sight impaired men's football. After a bit of a kerfuffle, I found Mick and such a lovely man. I hope you're going to enjoy this conversation.
07:22S5
For your competition away from the accommodation and you get into it. Or so you know. It's wonderful just to have people in different stages, doing different things. Always with that sort of busyness about it and that hum, that verb that goes around a place when things are happening. It's a great it's a great place. Yeah.
07:43S2
It's been quite well received here, hasn't it? I mean, certainly the they have some impressive sponsors, um, in National Express and the City council and the university both seem to have bought into it. But on a wider level, you're getting national television coverage over here on channel four. That must be quite a boost to you.
08:01S5
It is. It's great to have disability sport, you know, on channel four and promoting it and people seeing it. And at the most basic level, it provides education and knowledge for people. Hopefully that in turn then lets know what the capabilities of people with disability and it's not just yet, you know, crawl up into a corner, you know, suck your thumb. You know, people with disability are capable of achieving so many things, not just on a sporting field, but in life and it's about demonstrating that. So people have that awareness, education and knowledge. And then hopefully when they do come across someone with a disability, they're encouraging and supportive and, you know, assisting them to get involved more into life and the opportunities that, you know, offers. Yeah.
08:53S2
Um, as you said that, uh, the Thai vision impaired football team who I saw in action earlier against some Germans who just walked past us. And again, I've never been to an event like this. I, you know, and the this is a physical sensation of listening to them play is amazing. It's like German shouting chickens. Yes.
09:15S5
Exactly. Right. But we don't certainly mention the war. No.
09:19S2
I think I mentioned it once, I think I got away with it.
09:22S5
Certainly. No. What's the score? Two nil. Maybe. But you know all of those things. It is great. Um, you know, I was at the cricket earlier on today to watch the Australian, uh, female team play the English female team. I went to goalball competition, watch the Australian women's team there. Play the Greek national women's team. You know, on Thursday we're going to see blind archery. What could be.
09:48S2
Wrong? I'm coming on Thursday to blind archery. Absolutely.
09:51S5
Yeah. No, that'd be fantastic. Yeah. So all of these events are going on. So it's great to get out to them because we have chess being played here. So all of these things are fantastic to get out and actually, you know, know what's going on and be up close and personal with them. They're all great.
10:09S2
They're also all being played to a standard that nobody's handing out ribbons here, are they?
10:13S5
Definitely not. No, no, we're here to win. Um, no. No apologies about that. Yes. We play fair mostly. And but we certainly I.
10:22S2
Know you too well to believe that there's always a little dig at something.
10:26S5
Slightly. But. No, we're certainly here to win. Yeah, that's what it's all about. But once competition is finished, you know that handbrake is off. And then we're here to win. The partying stakes are so. But until then, it's certainly focused on performing at our optimum level.
10:42S2
Well, as we did the intro to this show, Sam mentioned that there's a very specific smell that he misses to athletes accommodation. I mean, you're obviously wonderfully fragrant. Your fragrance.
10:54S5
I do tend to use underarm and aftershave. Yeah, that's.
10:57S2
Nice of you. Um, but yes, there is. There's a bit of a sniff of feet around here, isn't that? Yes.
11:03S5
Yeah. Short answer is yes. It's because we're on all the time. Yeah. That's our fate. So yes, there's, um, you know, running shoes being, you know, worn and worn a lot and then or people wearing just sort of sandals out and about, just trying to relax their feet. So there is that sort of waft of relief occasionally, which is not what you want to hear or, and smell in the food hall. No. However, these are the fun parts of it all.
11:33S2
Yeah. So again, the communal eating thing, I always say you and I took a while to find each other this evening, mainly because I'm a muppet, and I went around the back of the building instead of the front. There's me believe in Google Maps again. Yes. Um uh, but, um, I, I wonder how much you do actually get to meet people, because obviously I know myself, uh, somebody with a vision impairment that isn't as black or white as yours, if you know what I mean, that it's sometimes hard to meet other people.
12:03S5
It is not. It is more difficult.
12:04S2
At the next table.
12:05S5
It is, um, I'm a fairly outgoing, gregarious kind of guy, but it is more it is difficult to, to, um, catch the eye of, um, someone, especially if language may be a barrier. So it's quite good. Obviously if English is, it's there. Um, but otherwise it's fun to sit next to someone from a different country and start a conversation and find out what it's like for them. It's I think it's quite fascinating to find out what it's like for someone who's blind or visually impaired in another country, what what are their social conditions, what sport, you know, not just what sport do they play, but what are their social conditions, you know, what are they, um, studying, you know, what's their employment opportunities? You know, um, how do they find it? How do they move around, you know, in their country and so varied to have people here from, you know, the different continents, would it be, you know, Europe or South America or North America or Asia, um, or Africa? It's wonderful to be able to kind of bounce off of each other and, and find out more.
13:06S2
It's all right. Let's let's do a, let's do a cultural exchange. Then let's put our money where your mouth is.
13:13S5
And go always good with someone else's money.
13:15S2
How are you finding the UK or how do you find. Because you've been in many times. How do you find the UK in general compared to Australia? What are the differences in daily life?
13:24S5
Yeah, I'm certainly um, a lot more sort of history, culture and pageantry here in, in the UK. Um, so that, you know, that can be both advantageous and disadvantages.
13:40S2
Um, no. But on the stuff you're talking about, accessibility, prospects of employment, moving about, I mean, I have my view. So I just want to know what yours.
13:49S5
Yeah, certainly in London the tube is fantastic. The the public transport, um, is amazing. It's perfect. Yeah. I think that's always easiest when you have a small area with lots of people because you need that infrastructure. It can be paid for and it's there over a longer time period. Um, you start moving away from the big cities, though it's not quite so easy to move around. Agreed. Um, you go to some of the villages that the roads are so very narrow, you don't want to be so up close and personal with large lorries or cars. You're travelling at speed, wafting past you. That's not a good feeling.
14:32S2
I so my parents live in a village in Rutland, which is England's smallest county, right. Uh, and it's a nightmare to get there. Yeah. Uh, and, you know, it's six miles from the nearest station. Yeah.
14:47S5
And that does not thrill me.
14:49S2
I yeah, but I, when I, when I stay there, I feel emasculated and imprisoned. I think it's a fair way to put it, you know what I mean? It's like anybody else could drive. Yeah.
14:59S5
Isolated. Yeah. You know, there's barriers that you can't move around.
15:03S2
You know, I can't pop to the shops for my mum if that's one of the interesting things as well. So and again, that's partly a big thing. I made a very deliberate decision to move to London as a 21 year old, you know, and make sure I was within had access to that. Um, NDIS doesn't exist over here.
15:21S5
No, no it doesn't. And that can be a good and bad thing. So in the U.S has its positives, um, where it certainly will support you with equipment and some services. Um, but also does limit you at times as well. So um, certainly being here in England, um, they run a fantastic lottery sports lottery for people with disability and that provides enormous funding, uh, for sporting opportunities for people with disability. So that's a massive advantage. Um, the UK has over Australia in that specific area. Now, I would argue that maybe this is an advantage Australia has. Yeah. Um, I would also argue that there's probably a few more social net. Um, you know, I guess protection measures in Australia there are in the UK as well. Okay.
16:11S2
That's an interesting.
16:12S5
So it's.
16:13S2
Perspective.
16:14S5
You know, it's fascinating how, you know, it probably all ends up in the, you know, relatively even in the wash maybe. But it's it's what you get used to.
16:25S2
Um, well, so as you know, I've been in a friend of the show Paula calls denial about my eyesight. Condition. I took advantage of applying for the job I have now. I mean, oh, I've never seen something that says applications from people with a vision impairment are encouraged before. I don't really have one of those vision impairments, but I've got quite thick glasses and I qualify as severely sight impaired. I may as well give it a go. And then over the last three and a half years, uh, thanks to you and others who have provided me support in Australia, um, I have come into contact with what people call the blind and low vision community. Again, I'm not convinced that that's necessarily a universal thing. I think it's often a solitary experience. Yeah, but you mentioned employment, and I find it may just because I've been here for two months since I've acknowledged stuff. Yeah. And I've just done three and a half years of immersion in it in Australia. But I think there are more opportunities in mainstream education, uh, employment in Australia than there are here in the UK.
17:32S5
Yeah. It's fascinating. It's fascinating because you speak to different people. Well, you and.
17:37S2
I both work for, uh, in some ways for charities with a vision in organisations with a slant on vision impairment. We've taken advantage of that. Yes, absolutely. Um, we both also worked in mainstream employment. Yep, yep. Um.
17:52S5
And yeah, I think I think it, it comes it ultimately comes down to the individual. It's how much you want to get out there and, you know, proactively try things. Um, a lot of it is you've got to be comfortable with yourself, whether it be not just your disability but yourself as a person. I'm really big on that. I think that's vital because how do you make other people feel comfortable if you're not?
18:22S2
That's that cuts the quick for me, actually. Yeah, you're right, you're right.
18:26S5
And I'm not meaning to. I'm just saying I'm talking.
18:28S2
No. Do you know me well enough to know that I'm guilty of that? Sometimes.
18:32S5
But we all are.
18:33S2
Okay. We all.
18:33S5
Are. It's never easy journey. I remember losing my sight when I was six, and I didn't want to admit it. All right? You know, no kid wants to use a cane to get around because you stand out from the rest of the crowd. Who the hell wants to do that? You know it wants to be, you know, different from anyone else. We all want to fit in. We all want to be part of everything. Um, and so it's absolutely what everyone goes through. There's no right or wrong. It's I always sort of strongly believe. Passionately believe. Well, take some time to to work through it all. The only thing it's not okay is, is to be in denial for 20, 30, 40 years.
19:14S2
Right. Okay. Well, sorry about that. No no no.
19:17S5
No no no. Because it all comes it once you sort of start working through it you get there. But it if you just go no I don't have it, then that's not going to ultimately work for you long term. It does for a while. We all do it.
19:31S2
But and you have good days and bad days. Yeah. And as I used to, I, I copied somebody the other day, I went, you know, I don't want to be blind today. I'm not going to wear any glasses. I'm going to wander around and try and look normal. Absolutely.
19:45S5
Yeah, absolutely.
19:46S2
And failed abysmally and tripped up at the tube station.
19:49S5
But but we all do that now. I don't use my cane to move around my home if I'm in an office. Um, you know, working, you know, I want to go to the kitchen and grab a cup of tea.
20:01S2
You won't necessarily pick up your.
20:03S5
Okay. No. And I'll do it if there's not too many other people around. But if there's other people around, I'll use my cane more because, you know, for so I know where they are or they know where I am. Yeah, I don't need to use my cane. I've memorized where it is. I don't need to use my car. I can do it. But I do.
20:24S2
Shorthand, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'm, I'm I'm thinking about it. Yeah. I haven't got there yet. No, it's okay. And you don't need to. No I don't but but again it does help explain things without having to use words isn't it. And people clear a path for you. Yeah. Um, but again it's, it's as we watch two people walk past with long canes. They're, you know, rattling in the background.
20:50S5
Yeah.
20:51S2
And they go to nice people and check tracksuits from the next table. And there's some sexy Dutch ladies over there. We're not allowed to say that anymore. Um, no. Um, if.
21:01S5
You know some Dutch words, can you teach.
21:03S2
Me? Uh, lekker means tasty. Uh, if somebody is an attractive person, they are lekker stuck like a stork. Yes, you can.
21:10S5
Hear that.
21:11S2
An Englishman means I'm an Englishman. Uh, but that's about all the Dutch I ever needed to know. Really? Yes. After that, talking wasn't necessary.
21:18S5
No, I like that. Um.
21:20S2
So let's talk about the sport. Um, representing your company, uh, country. I seem to remember that you are the longest serving member of the Australian Brian cricket team ever. Is that correct?
21:32S5
And he's quite correct. I've just clocked up 25 years at the top level, international level. And yeah, it's certainly it's amazing advancements that have been in blind cricket. But yeah, extremely privileged. And to be part of the Australian setup for such a long time and to be, you know, there right at the commencement of international blind cricket back in 98 to where it is now in 2023. It's been a long journey but a fun one. It's still.
22:02S2
A buzz to step.
22:03S5
Out. It is. Yeah.
22:05S2
Very smartly dressed in in the company uniform. It's very in the green and gold.
22:09S5
Yeah. Absolutely. No it's it's still I had one of the coaches ask me um, first day actually, you know how you're feeling. I said, no, you don't lose the thrill. You don't lose the adrenaline rush. You don't lose the passion. And I think if I did lose that passion, that desire to improve, to to do my best, I think that's what certainly when I walk away, um, there are certainly times as you get older it's more difficult to do both on the body and mentally. Absolutely. Um, but surely mentally.
22:42S2
It gets easier, doesn't it?
22:44S5
No, because you've got to be more disciplined. You've got to be harder on yourself. And you're probably aware of more things. You're probably less fearless, if that makes sense. So you don't have the ignorance of youth to just go for it. You actually understand the consequences of what you're trying to achieve, what you need to do. So with experience and knowledge comes the understanding of success and failure. So yeah, I can do things now with experience and knowledge and but that also means I understand that the consequences of things going at, you know, incorrectly as well.
23:24S2
So how do younger members of the team and I'm sure you've seen them go come and seen them go. How do they feel about you? It's an interesting way of asking that question. I thought you might like that.
23:36S5
I would like to believe that. I would like to believe they look after me, respect me. I'm still I still don't have any red carpet or pedals thrown in front of my feet, which is quite like. No, I think the crunching of pedals, I think would probably give it away. Um, but it's, you know. Yeah. As I said, I because I've been able to, um, perform. I would like to believe that there's a lot of respect, um, there for what I have have achieved.
24:10S2
But you do you give them a slap around the ears sometimes.
24:12S5
Yeah, absolutely.
24:13S2
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. It's a part of what sport is for, isn't it? Particularly in this context. Yeah.
24:17S5
Look, there's a lot of banter, um, in a team based, um, sport, you know, there's a lot of, you know, talking and communicating. So a lot of it is supporting. Assisting. And you're directing the youngsters through. So being able to offer that sort of advice, that friendly ear, you know, that support mechanism does, you know, build rapport and does build respect and hopefully some trust and, you know, cricket.
24:47S2
Advice, blind cricket advice and blind advice. Yeah. So extracurricular stuff as well.
24:52S5
Um, no. That might be a strong fourth option. Yeah. So absolutely it's all of those because we're we're people. You know, it's it gets back to it. Yeah. We're playing sport and we're hard edged and we want to win. Absolutely. But it's what goes into that. And it's the the people behind it is what matters, you know. And you can't be ready to go and be hard edged if you're not in that mindset. So it's it's a lot of, you know, being together and sharing those experiences and even the negative ones and then talking that through, um, you know, we definitely have those and their setbacks. And whether it be, you know, personal, professional, sporting wise, you know, life, you know, there's always setbacks. You know, I get them just as much as anyone else. So if I can make things a little bit easier and better for someone else, why wouldn't I? But it's it's, you know, that's what I'm here to do is I want to perform. I want to perform for the team. I want to perform for myself. And then I want those around me to perform so we can be as successful as possible for the team. It's. It sounds all nice and simple, but what goes into that? You know, here's a secret ingredients, which I guess no one's found. Otherwise we'd all be copying it. Um.
26:13S2
Michael Jackson's mic. Um, a pleasure to speak to you, as always. I always am thrilled by your love of language and your perspective. And, yeah, you're a brand ambassador.
26:27S5
I appreciate that. Thank. Thank you for having me.
26:29S2
Uh, and thank you. And we're gonna go and see the archery and maybe some time. Cambodia on Thursday. Absolutely. And then can we have a beer? When are you allowed a beer?
26:36S5
Um, at the end of my tournament, I will be having multiple.
26:39S2
So if you, um, get knocked out earlier, we can maybe have a drink on Thursday night. Yes. All right, well, play well, but not too well. Exactly. I know, at the end of it. Right. That's your lot for this week. To all competitors at the International Blind Sports Association's World Games 2023. Well, run well from me and from Sam. You're not allowed to say good luck, are you, Sam?
27:06S3
You don't need luck. Usually. If you if you need luck, then you shouldn't be there.
27:09S6
Haha.
27:10S2
And of course, thanks to you for listening. Uh, next week, uh, I shall be talking to Studio One's favourite blind skateboarder, Anthony Ferraro, about the joys and challenges of being a new dad.
27:25S3
Between now and then. Please do get in touch with the show. Whether you've experienced any of the issues covered in this episode of Studio One, or if you think there is something we should be talking about, you never know. Your story and your insight may help somebody else who is dealing with something similar.
27:39S2
You can email Studio One at Vision Australia Talk, that's studio one at Vision australia.org, and I'm going to take great pleasure in deleting Mr. Musk there. I don't hate him, but yeah, I just don't think he's done this one right.
27:56S1
Vision Australia Radio gratefully acknowledges the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation for Studio One.
