Deaflympic Games - Melbourne 2005
Contact Details:
Stuart Harrison
Manchester Metropolitan University
Alsager Campus, Hassall Road
Alsager,
Greater Manchester,
ST7 2HL
Website: http://www.gbdeaflympics.com
For those of you who don't know, the Deaflympics first started in Paris in 1924 following the formation of the Comité International des Sports des Sourds, (CISS - the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf), making it the second oldest international sporting event after the Olympic Games.
Great Britain has a proud history in deaf sport, particularly in the Deaflympics, and this is one of the largest, if not the largest, GB Teams to have competed in the Games. Over 100 British athletes and officials will contest eight different sporting disciplines in Melbourne and they are all gearing-up to try and bring back as many medals as possible.
Getting the GB Team to Australia has been a real team effort in itself. Each athlete has had to raise 50% of their costs. Two separate areas of funding from UK Sport, including a grant of £75,000 specifically towards the Deaflympic budget - the biggest single grant ever for deaf sport - has gone a major way towards funding the remainder of the trip. Our thanks to UK Sport and to everyone in the UK who has organised or participated in fundraising events to help make up the remaining funds, including my colleagues on the Deaflympic Working Party.
Without all your support we would not be able to send such a large GB Team to Australia. We also want to thank all our supporters, friends and families who are coming out to Melbourne. We are delighted that so many can make the trip. Their support will be invaluable.
We would like to say a big thank you to Broadband from BT, whose support has enabled both this website and the first official UK Media Team to cover the Games. The sponsorship from BT Broadband has also given us the opportunity to use the latest technology to keep in touch with those staying behind in the UK. Furthermore we are delighted that the BBC's See Hear will be covering the Games to add to their excellent coverage of some of our athletes preparing for Australia, while the BBC Sport website is also planning some great coverage.
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Disability Sport : Governing Bodies & Associations