Localization of Sports Websites

Website localization is the act of adjusting an already existing website to a local market. It involves much more than a simple translation because it needs to take into account and respond to the cultural preferences of a target population, to avoid being inappropriate or too daring, etc. The aim is to make visitors feel that the content is natural rather than out of place, disruptive, or just hard to digest. Sports is an area very much focused on people, with lots of interviews, incursions into the personal life of the subjects. This strong social dimension greatly amplifies the necessity to adjust the content to local demands.

Some Considerations Related to Sports Websites Localization

Among the key aspects being considered when localizing websites are:

• The value system and the beliefs. Although we expect human values and attitudes to be universally valid, they can take somewhat different forms depending on the geographic location. For instance, many eastern nations might regard the absolute confidence and ego displayed by famous teams or sports stars in the West as much less appealing.
• Traditions and habits. However unreasonable, unjust, or outdated, these are part of the present identity of a nation and can’t be ridiculed or undermined without attracting public outrage. Any global sport might have local specifics and even practicing sports itself might be subject to certain restrictions or expectations imposed by society. A delicate issue could be gender representation in sports in conservative countries.
• History.  It is essential to avoid symbols that might allude to the colonial past of the country, the racial inequity it experienced, genocides, or other historical traumas. Although we’ve all heard about the recent scandals involving big fashion brands abroad, the field of sports isn’t immune to such problems either. One should exploit positive symbols or associations with the glorious past or former sports achievements of a nation.
• The level of education of the audience. The content should be adapted to the audience, which is typically the average person. An overly pretentious or exquisite tone could be appropriate for sports like golf but out of place for most other sports.

Leave It to Professionals!

Considering the above-mentioned, it is evident that localization of sports websites requires translators to possess not only native-level language skills but also a perfect awareness of the corresponding culture and society. If you have been looking long for the right translation service, this TheWordPoint review might answer many of your questions and help make a decision. The reviewers here take into account several types of data such as client feedback from multiple online sources; the range of services offered; pricing; special and unique benefits; and importantly, for each reviewed platform, they evaluate the quality of a directly ordered translation.

Final Thoughts

Localization can pose many challenges. On one hand, it has to respect the cultural differences, to match the archetypes and role models that are accepted in a particular society. On the other hand, a sports organization has to maintain its image, staying true to its beliefs and values. Finding the right people to help with such a complex task is no easy thing to do and requires much consideration. Apart from reviews that try to directly evaluate localization vendors, many guiding articles can help get a better idea about the subtilities of identifying the right localization vendor. These should help make a more informed choice.

Bio

Michael worked for several on-demand research and content writing platforms. While doing so, he acquired good professional experience and a good understanding of the industry, with its various specializations and competition niches. Nowadays, he writes to share his working experience with colleagues in the industry, but also to inform the public about the diversity and utility of the corresponding platforms.