Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru
The Federation of Disability Sport Wales (FDSW) is a pan-disability National Governing Body of Sport Which aims to promote and develop quality sports opportunities
GB hopeful of Deaflympics success
A team of 80 athletes will represent Great Britain at the 2009 Deaflympics, which begin in Taipei on Saturday.
The event, originally known as the World Games for the Deaf, was first held in Paris in 1924 and now includes 4,000 athletes from 81 countries.
Four years ago in Melbourne, GB won 16 medals, including five golds, and will be competing in eight sports.
They will be hoping for more success this time in football, swimming, badminton and athletics.
The men’s football team are defending champions with Lee Farrell, who scored the late winner in the 2005 final, back in the squad and manager Philip Gardner believes his side can retain their title.
“The standard of football will definitely be high but we have the belief and desire to succeed,” he insisted.
“I think our biggest challenge will come from Iran, who we beat in the final last time.
“I met their manager not too long ago and he told me that his country are determined to go one better than they did in Melbourne”.
The women’s football team will be hoping to improve on the bronze they won last time.
The vastly experienced Rajeev Bagga is hoping to land his sixth individual gold medal in badminton.
The athletic squad boasts current gold medallists in Joanne Davison (hammer) and Lauren Peffers (800m) while GB are also represented in swimming, table tennis, tennis and – for the first time ever – in martial arts.
The team have travelled to Taipei after UK Deaf Sport lost their government funding from UK Sport earlier this year.
It left athletes having to raise the £3,000 each to compete and UK Deaf Sport honorary president Derek Simmons is proud of their efforts
“Our athletes have worked extremely hard to secure their places in the team and to compete against the world’s best deaf athletes,” he said.
“Following the UK Goverment’s decision not to provide funding for Team GB, UKDS is very grateful to the many sponsors who have helped make it possible for the athletes to be in Taipei.
“While some athletes received donations, it is important to stress that a number of our squad took out personal loans in order to be able to compete at this level and represent Great Britain.
“We salute our athletes for their commitment to their country and to their sport and hope their efforts will be rewarded with a medal.”
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