FC Porto is again world first in the implementation of good practices for accessibility and universal communication, this time using the ColorADD code. Estádio do Dragão is the first stadium in the world to implement colour coding for the colour blind.

This system will help those who experience difficulties in distinguishing or identifying colours and who may feel impaired when accessing the stadium, reinforcing commitment of the club in developing inclusive infrastructures.

Inclusion through colour is another important step in the sustainability work developed at FC Porto. Always keeping an eye on innovation, comfort and safety of the public at Dragão, as well as on creating an “accessible match day experience”, FC Porto looks at a solution that combines the agenda 2030 and the Objectives of Sustainable Development.

Teresa Santos, responsible for the Sustainability of FC Porto, highlights this: “This is a system that aims at non-discriminatory inclusion and helps us to promote equal opportunities of access to an event as is a football match, which attracts so many people. In this first phase, the ColorADD code is applied to parking lots, which are organized by colours, and also in the training vests of the main squads. The next objective will be to include the ColorADD code in any other support that uses colour as a distinguishing factor”.

ColorADD is a colour identification system for the colour blind, a universal language that represents the 3 Primary Colours - Blue, Yellow and Red - through symbols. Based on the concept of “Adding Colour” the Symbols can relate to each other and the entire colour palette can be graphically identified.

The code was created by Miguel Neiva, born in Porto, who is open about the satisfaction of seeing his work implemented at FC Porto.

“I admit that, today, I am “five times” happy, as ColorADD is now finding its way to Clubs by the hand of FC Porto; this is the Club in my heart; because this is the first Club in the world to adopt this universal and inclusive solution in its stadium; because this is my city, where ColorADD was also born and because I am sure that this good practice will take the name of the Club, the City, and the Country even further in the world”, he explained.

The creator’s hope is that the boost given by simply being at Estádio do Dragão can raise awareness to a problem that is not always properly valued and that can have a simple and effective solution.