Marios and Memnos Costi to visit top UK sporting events in BT Sport series, ‘Deaf Away Days’ (BSL)

Deaf brothers and futsal players Marios and Memnos Costi will watch some of the biggest events in the world of rugby, football and track cycling as part of a new TV series airing tonight.

Deaf Away Days, produced by Signpost Productions and broadcasting on BT Sport 1 this evening, is part of the company’s ‘Sign Up’ initiative – a project backed by the mobile network EE which seeks to “raise the profile of the Deaf community within sport”.

Another opportunity as part of BT’s campaign is ‘New Signing’, which will see two British Sign Language (BSL) signers trained to provide commentary for sporting fixtures such as the UEFA Champions League Final and the FA Disability Cup later this year.

The first episode of Deaf Away Days will involve the brothers attending their first ever rugby match together, watching the Saracens take on Northampton Saints before being given a tour of the stadium and learning about the club’s charity work.

They also speak to former England rugby union player Ugo Monye, who was also a contestant alongside Rose Ayling-Ellis in the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Teasing the series in a press release last month, BT said: “This is a travelogue around various venues as Marios and Memnos see some of the best and biggest fixtures and events.

“The Costi brothers represented Team GB in Deaf football and futsal but will now trade their boots for a seat in the stands to show off their Deaf Away Days.”

The series begins on BT Sport 1 tonight, at 10pm.

Photo: BT.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.