Zürich, 21 May 2002 - FIFA has taken a further step to make the news on FIFAworldcup.com, the Official Website of the 2002 FIFA World Cup " available to world-wide football fans. As of 31 May, HandiCaPZéro, the French association for blind and visually impaired people was given the rights, free of charge, to reproduce the news from FIFAworldcup.com on their website, handicapzero.org.

Thanks to a technical solution enabling the automation of data on-line, news and information published on FIFAworldcup.com will be made available on handicapzero.org in real time. Through the "Reading Comfort" solution, available on handicapzero.org, blind internet users will be able to have direct and optimised access to the information, while visually handicapped surfers will be able to read the site pages in compliance with the parameters that they have set such as background colour, font size and font colour. In addition, HandiCaPZéro will issue a free Braille brochure in French, offering comprehensive information on the 2002 FIFA World Cup", as was done for the previous FIFA World Cup", in 1998 in France.

"The FIFA World Cup" is an event that joins all people of all nations and all races, and is especially a time when football helps unite not only the able-bodied enthusiasts but also those with special needs. As at France 98, FIFA and the local FIFA World Cup" organisers are delighted to include in this worldwide football family also those fans whose sight is impaired but who nevertheless have their full share of the excitement of the matches. We are sure that this special publication will, as four years ago, help augment their enjoyment and we wish all users of this special edition a great deal of pleasure from the matches that lie ahead" said Keith Cooper, FIFA's Director of Communications.

FIFAworldcup.com, the Official Website of the 2002 FIFA World Cup" is the most comprehensive information source for all football fans. The website offers dedicated, unparalleled and real-time coverage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup" and provides instant information about news from the football world in seven languages-English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Chinese. In addition, exclusive video highlights, a photo gallery, a game zone, exclusive video from the FIFA archives, and destination information of the 2002 FIFA World Cup" complete the information service.

HandiCaPZéro helps visually challenged people to cope with their disability and to lead full and independent lives. Further information on the work of HandiCaPZéro can be obtained on handicapzero.org, topic "Contact". The association's number in France is +33 (0)5 4930-3444.

Enquiries to be addressed to:
FIFA Media Office
Tel: +41-1/254 9800
Fax: +41-1/384 9696

FIFA Communications Division
Zürich, 21 May 2002