The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have moved to dismiss reports that deaf sports will be included in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
On the official IPC website a statement appeared on Friday saying that the IPC Chairman, Sir Philip Craven, had been misquoted as saying that it was an IPC objective for deaf sports to be included in the 2020 games in Tokyo while he actually said it was an ICSD (International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) objective to get some events included for deaf athletes.
Regardless of whose objective it is, the newly elected President of ICSD, Valery Rukhledev, met with Sir Philip Craven in Buenos Aries in September and negotiations about the re-integration of deaf sports into the Paralympic Games are ongoing.
Since the success of the 2012 London Paralympic Games, the pressure to include deaf sports has increased with the difference in funding received by deaf athletes compared to that received by paralympic athletes a source of frustration. Sport England allocated just £100,000 to help deaf athletes prepare for this year’s Deaflympics in Sofia while UK Sport has made a record £347m available for paralympians going to Rio in 2016.
By Andy Palmer, Deputy Editor
Hat tip: Sara Jae
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andy
October 23, 2013
I have yet to see one single report of the happenings at the Deaflympics. Were there no freelance reporters at all at the entire event.
For all the impact it has had it might as well have not happened.
limpingchickeneditor
October 23, 2013
Hi Andy, in another guise I edit the BSL Zone website, take a look at the Deaflympics page here: http://www.bslzone.co.uk/sofia-2013-deaflympics/
There are daily videos, two round-up programmes (all subtitled) and we had a number of news stories too (google BSL Zone / news/ deaflympics and they should come up.
Thanks
Charlie (Editor)
Jeremy Hine
October 23, 2013
I guess what Andy may have been indicating is that the Paralympics was very high profile to the mainstream audience. Many British Paralympians have become national hero’s to everyone. The same cannot be said for the Deaflympians who put in equal effort for little recognition. The sooner deaf sports are incorporated into the Paralympics the better.
Stuart Harrison
October 23, 2013
UK Deaf Sport had reports in the national and local press and some local TV stations. check out http://www.ukdeafsport.org.uk at Deaflympics page for full reporting on the GB athletes
UK Deaf Sports in partnership with BSLBT was excellent in ensuring a wider coverage of BSLTB video footage and programmes.
The funding from Sport England allowed UK Deaf Sport to increase its coverage of the Deaflympics in the UK exponentially, this report will be available in December.
Jeremy Hine
October 28, 2013
Stuart, please forgive me but I have just checked the link you suggested and cannot find any reports. In conversations with people both deaf and hearing since the Deaflympics only a few have ever heard of it and were aware it happened this year. The only people that were aware were deaf themselves. I’m not trying to be negative about the work of UKDS or BSLBT, quite the opposite. What I am saying is that Deaflympians (or those aspiring to be) deserve the money, publicity, awareness and opportunities that being part of the Paralympics would bring.
Stuart Harrison
October 30, 2013
Jeremy, apologies for mis-direction. The link is on the home page of http://www.ukdeafsport.org.uk look for the DeaflympicsGB sofia 2013 logo on the right hand side. Or go directly to deaflympicsgb.tumblr.com
Everyone in deaf sport around the world would agree with you that only a few have ever heard of the Deaflympics. It is good to see that you believe that Deaf sportsmen and women deserve the same opportunities as the Paralympians. This is a complex political issue that will be covered in a new book “Same Spirit, Different Team – The politicalisation of the Deaflympics’