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A sporting chance?Football fiasco | Uneven
playing field | What next? This year, Andrew Stibbs was the only competitor for Great Britain in the winter Deaflympics held in Sweden, even though around 10 people should have gone. Why? Quite simply, no one else could afford the trip. This doesn't happen in the hearing Olympics, so what's going on? Money for deaf sports used to be managed by the British Deaf Sports Council (BDSC). The BDSC itself received funds from UK Sport, a quango funded in its turn partly by government grant and partly by lottery money. But, on 31 December 2002, UK Sport stopped the BDSC's grant of £42,000 a year. They said that the BDSC seemed at odds with UK Sport's integration policy, lacked experienced people, and had received negative feedback. It's not just potential UK Deaflympics competitors who are suffering from a funding shortage – the European Deaf Football Championships were meant to be held in Sheffield in June 2003, but UK Sport rejected the BDSC's application for special funding, and the championships will now be held in Spain. The British team do not even qualify to play: as hosts, they were exempted from the qualifying rounds; now they are no longer hosts, they are ineligible because they haven't qualified! According to UK Sport, the application to fund the championships was rejected because it involved an 'unprecedented' 95% funding, because 18 months' notice is required except in exceptional circumstances, and because 'UK Sport is supportive of integrationist policies, a stance which is at odds with BDSC's current approach'. Vincent Dickson, a BDSC spokesperson, told VEE-TV that the BDSC had been in consultation with the UK Sport about hosting the football championships since 1997, but that BDSC committee members had not been aware that they were required to ask for funding 18 months in advance. Not all deaf sports are in the same funding boat. Nick Beese, 24, plays tennis and football at national and international level. 'There was no lack of funding with the British Deaf Tennis Association, as they are funded by the British Tennis Foundation,' he explains. 'But the football comes under the BDSC, and they cannot help with the funding, as they do not know how to get hold of any. 'We've often had to raise money ourselves and even paid out of our own pockets. We haven't had a new kit since the Deaflympics in Bulgaria in 1993.' Lack of funding for deaf sport has been equally frustrating for John Docker, a 25-year-old snowboarder. John was selected to compete in the Deaflympics but couldn't raise the £500 he needed to go. 'I feel that at the moment the Deaflympics is only accessible for rich people, not talented people,' he says. 'This is very unfair. We need money for training, equipment and a physiotherapist.' The funding problems are affecting deaf sports at every level. 'It's a real gut-wrenching experience,' says Nick Beese, 'as there is no real sports community for the deaf in Britain, and successful deaf sports people are unknown, as there is no communication. Things are run to a very low standard compared to the professional and well-structured organisations the hearing sports bodies run.' John Docker agrees. 'When I was learning to ski, there was no communication for me at all,' he says. 'I never understood what the tutor said. But later on, I learned by looking at other people. I once felt so angry when a tutor said to me: "You can't go down there because you're deaf. If you are in danger, you won't be able to hear us shouting at you." So I wanted to teach deaf children because they will understand better if they learn from me.' A new group called the Deaf Sports Strategy Group (DSSG) has been set up to tackle the problem. Sharon Hirshman, 33, is a DSSG representative. She's also a manager for the British women's football team. Sharon told VEE-TV: 'In the past, deaf people had to raise money because the BDSC did not know how to contact organisations, or even encourage deaf people to understand how the funding system works. We, the DSSG, have the contacts with the national governing bodies now, and we do know now that we don't have to raise money ourselves. However, we need to prove ourselves serious to them with a business plan.' We all know that sport is good for us, but it's not all about fitness. 'Sport can be a social event,' Sharon points out. 'Deaf people do not meet often enough. It can be a chance to play against people of our culture, too, and not always against hearing people.' Nick argues that taking part in sport 'gives confidence to all deaf people and enables them to compete on an even footing with hearing people. It also generates a healthy Deaf community with role models.' How would he feel if he could no longer play sport? 'I would be devastated and would liken it to being the end of the world for me,' he says. Andrew Stibbs, our solitary competitor in the Deaflympics at Sundsvall in Sweden (in the snowboarding giant slalom), feels the same way. Andrew started skiing when he was eight and moved on to snowboarding at 11. Now he's 23 and a volunteer winter-sports manager for the BDSC. When VEE-TV talked to him in Sweden, he told us it would ruin his life if he had to give up sports. 'It's been a brill and amazing experience – I'm very happy to be here!' he said. 'The Swedes are very good hosts, and look after the athletes and officials very well. 'For the world deaf that couldn't represent their country, it is gutting that they can't come because they are unable to afford it.' Perhaps surprisingly, things aren't much better over in the US. Darrick De La O, an American snowboarder who competed in the Sweden Deaflympics, had to raise the money. He needed $4,500 altogether. Luckily, an American deaf sports organisation gave him $1,500, so he only had $3,000 left to raise. But he still ended up paying $1,200 out of his own pocket. Part of the problem, Darrick says, is the lack of TV coverage. 'Sponsors could support us and in return we would advertise their business, but Deaflympics isn't on TV for the people to see the sponsors' advertisements.' Sharon is optimistic that the DSSG will be able to improve the situation for British deaf sports. It aims to increase funding and also to target other factors that stop deaf athletes from having the same opportunities as their hearing peers. But action is needed from the grass roots upwards, Sharon says: 'We, the Deaf community, have to work hard and roll up our sleeves and do something about this by working together towards the future.' Certainly positive thinking can do no harm. As Darrick De La O says, 'If you really want something, there's always a way in life!' So what do YOU think? Hit the feedback button and let us know. Find out moreOrganisations British Deaf Sports Council Deaf Sports Promotions Snowsport GB Sport England UK Sport Links Amateur Swimming Association British Deaf Athletics Championships British Deaf Football Deaf Sports Strategy Group Deaf Sports Deaflympic Games 2005 Deaflympics International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (CISS) London Sports Forum USA Deaf Sports Federation Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third-party sites. |
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