Deaf News: Deaflympics squad announced!

UK Deaf Sport has named the team that will compete in the 22nd Dealympics Summer Games in Sofia, Bulgaria from 26 July to 4 August 2013.

This is the second time that the Summer Deaflympics will be held in Sofia. The 2013 Games was originally awarded to Athens, the capital of Greece, but they had to decline, due to the financial crisis. Sofia stepped in at the last minute to host the event.

Former Deaflympian Fiona Brookes will lead a British contingent of about 50 athletes. She said in a statement:

“Since being asked to take on the role of Chef De Mission, I have met many of the GB team and it is clear that everyone is working really hard, training well and trying to steer clear of injuries at this late stage. There are now only four weeks left so the countdown has really begun.

“I am looking forward to working with all the athletes and officials in striving to produce peak performances, and therefore giving ourselves the best opportunities for bringing home those medals!

“I hope as many GB fans as possible are coming to support their athletes in Sofia. We’re working on creating a TeamGB timetable so that you’ll know when and where our athletes will be competing, making it easier for you to plan your time well and get to the venues to wave those flags!”

The team will fly out to Sofia on Monday 22 July.

The full squad is listed below:

Sport	Name	Role
ATHLETICS	JEWETT, Melanie	Athlete
	RUDDY, John	Athlete
	LISHMAN, Bethan	Athlete
	DORAN, Colette	Athlete
	ZELIC, Rebecca	Athlete
	PEFFERS, Laura	Athlete
	FOSTER, Rebecca	Coach
BADMINTON	ALLEN, Kirsty	Athlete
	BAGGA, Rajeev	Athlete
	BOWERS, Sarah	Official
	BURRIS, Mike	Athlete
	CASWELL, Dominic	Athlete
	HARDWICK, Andrea	Official
	HARPER, Kevin	Coach
	HOLDSWORTH, Lesley	Athlete
	HURLEY, Xander	Athlete
CYCLING	SMITH, Thomas	Athlete
	SMITH, Ian	Coach
KARATE	David Grant	Athlete
SHOOTING	Rob Lowe	Athlete
SWIMMING	WALKUP, Lucy	Athlete
	BAXTER, Thomas	Athlete
	TOWNS, Annabel	Athlete
	KENNY, Oliver	Athlete
	NISTED, Luke	Athlete
	McCOMISH, Jack	Athlete
	NODEN, Emily	Athlete
	CRANFORD, Alexander	Athlete
	ROSS, Callum	Athlete
	JOYCE, Danielle	Athlete
	STEWART, Renee	Athlete
	HOLMES, Angela	Coach
	ROBERTS, Andrew	Coach
TENNIS	BROOKES, Bethany	Athlete
	FLETCHER, Cathy	Athlete
	FLETCHER, Lewis	Athlete
	CLIFTON, Jack	Athlete
	WILCOX, Pete	Athlete
	WILLIAMSON, Stuart	Coach
WOMENS FOOTBALL	BOYNE, Michael	Coach
	BROWN, Emma	Athlete
	COOKE, Damaris	Athlete
	CROSS, Donna	Athlete
	EAST-O’KEEFFE, Rebecca	Athlete
	EVANS, Danielle	Athlete
	GILL, Mark	Coach
	GWYNN, Christopher	Coach
	HIBBETT, Debbie	Athlete
	HIRSHMAN, Sharon	Coach
	HOGAN, Louise	Athlete
	MALIN, April	Athlete
	MCKEOWN, Susan	Athlete
	NEWSON, Gemma	Athlete
	PAGE, Sarah	Athlete
	PERT, Jessica	Athlete
	PUSHPALINGHAM, Lhathini	Athlete
	SANDERS, Gemma	Athlete
	SIMS, David	Coach
	STANCLIFFE, Claire	Athlete
	TOBIN, Mandy	Athlete
	WATERS, Carly	Athlete
	WENMAN, Victoria	Athlete
	WISEMAN, Laura	Athlete
	ALP, Pembe	Standby
	MALLARD, Rachel	Standby
	LOCKEY, Chloe	Standby

 Image: Dimitar Nikolov via Flickr under Creative Commons licence

By Paul Harrison. Paul is a freelance journalist, currently living and working in London. When not at his desk writing or tweeting, he can be found at a coffee shop or Loftus Road/The Stoop/Celtic Park (delete as applicable) mumbling insults at the referee or sloppy passing. Follow him on Twitter as @paulbharrison

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