UK Deaf Sport are hoping to raise funds to help them prepare for the 2018 Deaflympics in Samsun ©UKDS

An appeal has been launched by UK Deaf Sport to help send a team to the 2017 Deaflympic Games in Samsun in Turkey. 

Saturday (July 18) marks two-years until the start of the event but the British team is still without any funding. 

Bill Baillie, UK Deaf Sport’s national talent officer, recalled a conversation he had at the 2013 Games in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital.

“I was with one athlete who won silver at the Games," he said.

"Despite her great success, she was considering leaving the sport she loves.

"Her reason behind it was money-based as she felt she couldn’t afford it anymore and as a result did not feel supported or valued as an elite deaf athlete.”

Britain's team of 49 finished 33rd in the overall medals table at Sofia 2013.

They won a total of five medals, two silver and three bronze. 

Britain last won a gold medal in the Deaflympics at Tapei in 2009 when tennis players Catherine Fletcher and Anthony Sinclair claimed the mixed doubles. 

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Great Britain won a gold medal in the tennis mixed doubles at the 2009 Deaflympics in Tapei thanks to Catherine Fletcher and Anthony Sinclair ©LTA

Russia, a country that invests heavily in backing their elite deaf athletes, finished top overall at Sofia 2013 with a total of 177 medals, including 67 gold, more than three times more than Ukraine, their nearest rivals. 

“We are confident our deaf athletes can be high achievers on the world stage," said Baillie. 

"But it will take more financial support to ensure we can develop brilliant talent from beginners to elite performers.”

The event in Turkey will be the 23rd Deaflympic Games, an event first held in 1924 and recognised by the International Olympic Committee.

To support UK Deaf Sport’s work, a new Elite Performance Group has been set up, run by expert volunteers.

“We need to get the right people in place to support the infrastructure," said Josef Baines, chair of the Group. 

"We need to convince possible funders of deaf sport’s value and give them the confidence to continually fund the Deaflympics as well as other performance programmes for the long-term.”

For more information on how to help click here. 



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