It is shameful and discriminatory that deaf people are the only disabled community that does not receive any government funding to help them to compete in elite sport, MPs have been told.
Although UK Sport will invest £330m of government and national lottery funding into British Olympic and Paralympic sport over the Los Angeles 2028 cycle, the GB team for the Deaflympics in Tokyo next month are having to raise most of the £450,000 costs themselves.
That is despite the Deaflympics having been established in 1924 and been recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1955, more than three decades before the Paralympics, the culture, media and sport select committee was told.
Chris Ratcliffe, the chief executive of UK Deaf Sport, said to MPs: “When it comes to elite sport, we are the only disabled elite sports group that have no access to funding whatsoever. I think that’s shameful, speaking forthrightly.
“No elite deaf athletes are funded by central government for the Deaflympics, nor have they ever been. The current sports policy from the government is very clear. It supports the Olympics, it supports the Paralympics, and anything out of that remit is not funded. And we’ve been told up until now that cannot and will not change.
“It is discrimination at the end of the day,” he said. “I’m lucky enough to be ranked fourth in the world. I would like to take that next step. But when I stand on that block, and look to the left and look to my right, six out of those eight swimmers are funded.
“In terms of disparities, on our journey we face roadblock after roadblock after roadblock. Compared to Paralympians, who get funding, put on national TV, and are celebrated, deaf Olympic athletes don’t get a mention.”
The chair of the committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, said that she backed the calls for more funding. “You said that you thought it was shameful that there was no support or representation for these elite deaf athletes and I agree with you,” she said. “I’m sure the rest of the committee feel the same way.”
