As part of its commitment to making sport more inclusive and accessible, Sport England has published an insightful article by UK Deaf Sport Chief Executive Officer, Chris Ratcliffe.
In the article, Chris shares his personal journey as a deaf person, reflects on the challenges many deaf children and adults continue to face in accessing sport and physical activity, and highlights the impact of UK Deaf Sport’s Destination Deaflympics programme. Drawing on findings from Sport England’s latest Active Lives Surveys, he explores why targeted action is needed to address the significant participation gap experienced by deaf people across the UK.
The article provides valuable insight into the barriers that remain, the progress being made, and the importance of creating environments where deaf children and young people can thrive through sport.
We encourage all deaf sports participants, their coaches, volunteers, parents, and supporters to take a few minutes to read Chris’s article and consider how these findings relate to their own experiences and local sporting opportunities.
The World Deaf Golf Federation (WDGF) has announced the launch of the World Deaf Golf Ranking (WDGR), creating, for the first time, an official worldwide ranking system for Deaf golfers.
The new ranking system is designed to recognise performances across national, regional, world championship and Deaflympic competitions, providing a clearer picture of where Deaf golfers stand on the international stage.
For many years, Deaf golf has lacked a consistent global ranking structure. The introduction of the WDGR is therefore a significant step forward in the development of the sport, helping players, national associations and supporters track performance and progress over time.
How the Ranking System Works
The World Deaf Golf Ranking operates on a rolling four-year cycle, aligned with the Deaflympic cycle.
Players earn ranking points through performances in:
National Deaf Golf Championships
Regional Deaf Golf Championships
World Deaf Golf Championships
Summer Deaflympics
Points are awarded based on both the level of competition and the number of competitors in each event category.
The highest-ranking events carry the greatest rewards:
Summer Deaflympics
Winner: 140 points
Runner-up: 100 points
Third place: 80 points
World Deaf Golf Championships
Depending on field size:
Winner: 100–120 points
Runner-up: 80–90 points
Third place: 60–70 points
Regional Championships
Depending on field size:
Winner: 15–45 points
National Championships
Depending on field size:
Winner: 10–20 points
This structure ensures that athletes are rewarded not only for winning but also for competing successfully in larger and stronger fields.
National Championships Now More Important Than Ever
The WDGF has asked all member countries to submit the results of their National Deaf Golf Championships to ensure players receive the ranking points they have earned.
National associations can submit results from both 2025 and 2026 championships.
From 2027 onwards, results must be submitted within one month of the event taking place.
To be accepted, submissions must:
Be signed by the President or Honorary Secretary of the national Deaf golf or Deaf sports federation.
Include each player’s International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) number.
Be submitted within the required timescale.
The WDGF has stated that players whose ICSD number is not supplied will still appear on the ranking list, but their results cannot be fully processed within the ranking system.
What This Means for Players
The introduction of a global ranking system provides several benefits:
Recognition of achievement at national and international level.
Greater visibility for Deaf golfers around the world.
A clearer pathway from national competition to international events.
Increased credibility for Deaf golf within the wider sporting landscape.
Additional motivation for players to compete regularly and improve their ranking position.
For emerging golfers, strong performances in national championships can now contribute directly to their international standing.
What This Means for National Golf Organisations
For NGO’s Golf, the ranking system creates an opportunity to showcase the strength of Deaf golf within the sport.
It also highlights the importance of maintaining accurate player records, including ICSD registration numbers, and ensuring that national championship results are submitted promptly.
With future qualification pathways likely to place increasing importance on competitive results and rankings, the WDGR could become an important reference point for player development and international selection discussions.
A Positive Step Forward
The launch of the World Deaf Golf Ranking represents another important milestone in the growth of Deaf golf worldwide.
By recognising performances consistently across national, regional and international competitions, the WDGF is creating a system that rewards achievement, encourages participation and strengthens the competitive structure of the sport.
For Deaf golfers everywhere, the message is simple: every championship now counts.
When Michael Woods stood on the summit of Mount Everest earlier today, he achieved something extraordinary.
To be clear, Michael is not the first profoundly Deaf person in the world to climb Everest. Other Deaf climbers have reached the summit before him. However, he is believed to be the first profoundly Deaf person from the UK to achieve this remarkable feat.
That distinction matters.
Not because records are everything, but because representation matters.
For generations, Deaf people have been told—sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly—to lower their expectations. To be realistic. To accept limitations that others place upon them.
Michael’s climb challenges that narrative.
Everest does not care whether you are Deaf or hearing. It does not make allowances. It simply demands preparation, resilience, skill and persistence.
The same is true of many challenges Deaf people face every day.
Success rarely arrives in a single moment. It is built through thousands of decisions: to keep training, keep learning, keep believing and keep moving forward when progress seems slow.
The summit is simply the visible part of the journey.
For young Deaf people especially, Michael’s achievement provides something powerful: proof.
Proof that Deaf people belong in every arena of life.
Proof that barriers can be challenged.
Proof that ambition is not limited by hearing status.
Not everyone will climb Everest.
But everyone has their own mountain.
A qualification. A career. A business. A sporting ambition. A personal challenge.
Michael Woods has shown us that great achievements begin in exactly the same way:
First you dream.
Then you believe.
Then you do the work.
Congratulations, Michael. The view from the top belongs to you.
Last week, the UK government finally acknowledged Deaflympians in Writing.
In a letter to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock congratulated the 65 Deaf athletes who represented Great Britain at the Tokyo Deaflympics, praising their “extraordinary talent and resilience” and calling them role models for Deaf children.
Recognition matters. Deaf achievement is often ignored entirely. But recognition without change is not progress.
When you read the letter closely, it becomes clear that nothing fundamental has shifted.
Fair Play for Deaf Athletes
Praise does not equal equality
Despite the congratulations, Deaflympians are still excluded from the UK’s elite sport system. There is no access to Athlete Performance Awards. No place on the World Class Programme. No consistent funding for coaching, medical support, or performance preparation.
The explanation is the same one Deaf athletes have heard for years.
Deaf sport is governed by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, not the International Paralympic Committee. Because of this, Deaflympians are described as sitting “outside UK Sport’s remit”.
This is presented as a neutral technicality. It is not.
It is a decision that keeps Deaf athletes on the outside.
“Outside the remit” means “not designed for Deaf people”
Funding systems are built by people. They show priorities. When a system repeatedly excludes one group, the problem is not the group — it is the setup.
Deaf athletes train at elite level. They compete internationally. They follow anti-doping rules. They represent Great Britain under the flag, just like Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
The difference is not ability or commitment. The difference is that Deafness does not fit neatly into the boxes the UK already uses.
Instead of redesigning the boxes, the setup asks Deaf athletes to accept exclusion.
Grassroots funding is not the same thing
The Minister’s letter highlights significant grassroots investment through Sport England, including funding for UK Deaf Sport and a specialist inclusion post.
Grassroots funding is important. It helps Deaf people get active and build community sport.
But grassroots funding does not pay for elite training. It does not cover international competition schedules. It does not offer full-time coaching, performance support, or the stability needed to compete against fully funded national systems.
Congratulating Deaf athletes for winning medals while pointing only to participation funding sends a clear message: Deaf sport is welcome at the bottom of the pathway, but not at the top.
We have had meetings before
The letter confirms more meetings. UK Sport will meet Deaf athletes. The Minister is open to further discussion.
Meetings are welcome. Listening matters.
But Deaf athletes and Deaf organisations have already told these stories. Evidence has already been shared. The problem is well understood.
What has been missing is not information. What has been missing is action.
Without clear outcomes, meetings risk becoming another way to delay decisions while athletes continue to self-fund, self-organise, and self-sacrifice.
This is not about asking for favours
Deaf athletes are not asking for charity. They are not asking to be “included” as a gesture of goodwill.
They are asking for equal recognition of elite performance.
They train. They compete. They win medals. They represent Britain on the world stage. They inspire Deaf children who rarely see themselves reflected in national sport.
If that is not elite sport, then the definition of elite sport is broken.
The real question
The Government’s letter is polite. It is careful. It avoids conflict.
But it does not answer the central question Deaf athletes are asking.
If Deaflympians are good enough to represent Great Britain, good enough to win medals, and good enough to inspire the next generation —
why are they still not good enough to be funded like other elite athletes?
Until that question is answered with real change, congratulations are just words.
Following the success of British athletes at the Tokyo Deaflympics, MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee have formally recommended that the Government fund elite Deaf sport and recognise the Deaflympics on the same basis as the Olympics and Paralympics.
While this does not yet represent full Parliamentary backing, it is a significant step forward for UK Deaf Sport’s #FairPlayForDeafAthletes campaign.
At Two Big Ears, we welcome this intervention — and we are clear about what must come next.
Deaflympians excluded from public funding
In its letter to the Secretary of State, the Committee states:
“Elite deaf athletes in the UK are the only disabled elite sports group that has no access to public funding whatsoever.”
Despite competing at the highest international level, Deaflympians:
Receive no UK Sport funding
Have no lottery-backed performance pathway
Must self-fund training, coaching, travel, physio and kit
This exclusion is not accidental. It is a long-standing policy gap.
Deaflympics recognised as part of the Olympic family
The Committee also makes clear that Deaf sport is already part of the recognised elite system:
“The Deaflympics [are] part of the Olympic family and the only games in which there is a classification for deaf people.”
This directly challenges the idea that Deaflympians sit outside elite sport structures.
Tokyo Deaflympics: success despite the system
MPs highlighted the reality faced by Deaf athletes preparing for Tokyo:
“To take part, our deaf athletes have to continuously raise money for training fees, travel, physio and kit.”
“For Tokyo, the 65 UK athletes who took part had to raise £250,000 between them, just to enable them to represent this country.”
All of this happened while athletes were training for elite competition and working or studying full time.
The conclusion was clear: Deaf athletes succeed in spite of the system, not because of it.
The funding ask — and why it is modest
UK Deaf Sport estimates that:
“£3 million [is needed] to prepare a team through the next full cycle, ready for the 2029 Deaflympics.”
The Committee noted:
“That is less than 1% of what UK Sport has awarded for the Olympics and Paralympics in one Olympic cycle.”
This is not an excessive demand. It is a proportionate request for equality.
Committee recommendation, not yet a Parliamentary vote
The Committee is explicit about what it is asking Government to do:
“Commit, via UK Sport, to £3 million of funding now for elite deaf sport in the current Deaflympics cycle.”
“Permanently recognise the Deaflympics in the same way you do for the Paralympic and Olympic Games for funding purposes.”
This is a formal recommendation. It now requires:
Government acceptance
A funding decision
Political will to act
Two Big Ears: fair play must mean fair funding
As the Committee concludes:
“The Deaflympians who represented our country on the global stage… deserve an equal opportunity.”
The #FairPlayForDeafAthletes campaign has now been reinforced by Parliamentary scrutiny.
The evidence has been heard. The recommendation has been made.
Now the Government must decide whether it will act.
“What Happens Next?” – Simple Explainer
Where we are now
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has reviewed evidence
It has written formally to the Secretary of State
It has recommended £3 million in funding and permanent recognition of the Deaflympics
What this does NOT mean
This is not yet a vote of Parliament
Funding is not yet agreed
Policy has not yet changed
What must happen next
The Government responds to the Committee
Ministers decide whether to accept the recommendation
UK Sport is instructed (or not) to release funding
Longer-term recognition is agreed or rejected
Why this matters Committee recommendations carry political weight. Ignoring them requires justification.
This is the strongest position Deaf sport has held in UK policy discussions to date.
Read the full article on the UK Parliament website
Yet despite the wins, the global sports pages remain strangely quiet. The athletes are in motion. The record boards are ticking. The cameras? Still mostly pointing elsewhere.
If the Deaflympic movement has one job, it was to show the world they matter. Right now, they’re doing the work. The question: will the world show up?
Bravo to the organising Committee for livestreaming, here’s the highlights for 19th November
Terence Parkin Comes Out of Retirement to Return to the Deaflympics Pool
In one of the most exciting announcements of this year’s Deaf sporting calendar, legendary South African swimmer Terence Parkin has officially come out of retirement — and he’s heading back to the Games.
Photo from South African Deaf Sports federation facebook
For many in the Deaf community, Parkin is more than an athlete. He’s a symbol of excellence, resilience, and the power of Deaf representation on the world stage. With over 400 international medals, including his iconic silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and countless Deaflympics records, Parkin has long been regarded as one of the greatest Deaf athletes of all time.
Now, after stepping away from competitive swimming, he’s returning to the international arena once again — and the excitement is already building.
A Champion’s Legacy
Parkin has dominated Deaflympics history:
Multiple-time Deaflympics gold medallist
Holder of long-standing Deaflympics records
A role model for generations of young Deaf swimmers
His comeback sends a powerful message: Deaf excellence doesn’t fade — it evolves.
Why This Matters
Parkin’s return is not just about competition. It’s about visibility. It’s about continuing to push boundaries for what Deaf athletes can achieve — and inspiring a new wave of swimmers who look up to him as proof of what is possible.
In an era where #FairPlayForDeafAthletes is gaining momentum around the world, having one of the most decorated Deaf athletes step back onto the stage adds incredible energy to the movement.
Looking Ahead to the Games
Whether he’s chasing new times or simply soaking up the atmosphere of international competition once more, Parkin’s presence will elevate the Games — for athletes, supporters, and the global Deaf community alike.
Tokyo 2025 – Ukraine Dominate Both Men’s and Women’s Sprint Orienteering
What an explosive start to the Deaflympics in Tokyo — not just in the men’s race, but across the women’s field too. Orienteering opened the Games with back-to-back masterclasses from Team Ukraine, who didn’t just impress… they owned the podiums.
Ukraine stormed the first event of the Games with a perfect 1–2–3 finish.
Gold: Nazar Levytskyi – 12:57
Silver: Dmytro Levin – 13:54
Bronze: Volodymyr Fedoseienko – 14:00
It was a commanding performance, setting the tone for Ukraine’s campaign.
Then the women stepped up — and delivered something just as breathtaking.
Ukraine didn’t just win. They swept the entire podium again.
Gold: Anna Vanasaun – 11:57
Silver: Hanna Fedosieieva – 12:16
Bronze: Hanna Androsovych – 12:40
All three were sharp, fast, and utterly fearless on the Tokyo course. Finland’s Sara-Elise Ruokonen and Lithuania’s Adrija Atgalaine chased hard, but Ukraine’s trio were simply untouchable.
Two events. Two podium sweeps. Six medals — all Ukrainian.
If today is any indication, Ukraine’s orienteering squad is here not just to compete, but to set the pace for the entire Deaflympics.
Tokyo 2025 has only just begun, and already the storylines are electric. More results, more drama, and more phenomenal athletic performances are on the way.
The unseen barrier that perpetuates the discrimination of deaf people in sport.
Audism is the belief that hearing and speaking are superior to being deaf and using sign language. It leads to discrimination and systemic barriers that marginalize deaf people in education, employment, and sport. The term was coined by Tom Humphries (1977)and has since been explored in Deaf Studies and Disability Studies.
In sport, audism manifests in coaching structures, team dynamics, funding, communication, and access to opportunities. Many sporting organizations fail to recognize Deaf sport as distinct from disability sport or do not provide adequate accommodations, which limits deaf athletes’ participation and success.
Prof Tom Humphries first coined the phrase Audism in the 1970s
Key Aspects of Audism in Deaf Sport:
Linguistic Discrimination – Favouring spoken language over sign language
For many coaches and team staff verbal communication is the default, leaving deaf athletes struggling to follow instructions in training and competition. The also take the path of least resistance and engage more with non-signers.
Most organisations in the sports economy fail to provide sign language interpreters, assuming that lip-reading or written communication is enough—despite evidence that lip-reading is only about 30-40% effective.
Deaf sports teams and events often receive less media coverage because they do not fit traditional (spoken language-based) broadcasting formats.
Medical Model Bias – Viewing deafness as a “deficiency” that needs fixing
Sports federations inadvertently, out of ignorance, prioritize hearing aids or cochlear implants over sign language and accessible communication strategies, pushing deaf athletes toward a “hearing” approach to sport.
Deaf athletes who do not use hearing technology are overlooked or excluded because coaches and administrators see them as “too difficult to work with.”
In classification systems for disability sports, such as the European Disability Golf Association, deaf athletes are disallowed from competing in their elite class compete because deafness alone does not qualify them for Paralympic categories, reinforcing the idea that the lived-experience of deaf athletes and the Deaflympic classification is less valid.
Institutional Barriers – Lack of access to coaching, funding, and competition pathways
Many national governing bodies do not fund elite Deaf sport at the same level as other disability sports, making it harder for deaf athletes to access high-performance training.
Deaf athletes often face fewer opportunities to compete internationally because Deaf-specific events (like the Deaflympics) receive far less support compared to the Paralympics or mainstream sport.
In some cases, deaf players in mainstream teams are expected to “adapt” rather than teams making accommodations for them. For example, if a referee relies only on a whistle, a deaf athlete misses key signals during a match.
Cultural Erasure – Disregarding Deaf sport as a distinct culture
Deaf sport has its own history, traditions, and rules, yet many sports organizations treat Deaf sport as an afterthought, assuming deaf athletes should just integrate into mainstream teams.
Sporting federations sometimes fail to recognize Deaf sport records and achievements, treating them as secondary to hearing competitions.
Deaf athletes feel pressured to conform to hearing norms rather than being encouraged to celebrate Deaf identity in sport.
Sports federations (Cricket Australia) initially adopting deaf sports teams but over time failing to recognise the strategic significance of their Deaf sport partners (Deaf Cricket Australia) and capitalising on Deaf Gain.
Everyday Prejudice – Patronizing attitudes and lack of inclusion in team culture
Deaf athletes in mixed (hearing and deaf) teams often experience exclusion—for example, being left out of informal team chats or not being fully involved in pre-game strategy discussions.
Hearing coaches and teammates sometimes assume deaf athletes need “extra help”, even when they are fully capable of competing at the same level.
There have been reports of derogatory remarks made against deaf players in mixed disability teams, reinforcing the idea that they are not fully accepted.
Audism in sport is not just about access—it’s about respect, equity, and recognition. True inclusion means more than adding an interpreter or letting a deaf player join a hearing team—it requires systemic changes in funding, training, and competition structures. Recognizing Deaf sport as a distinct and equal sporting category is crucial for breaking down audism and allowing deaf athletes to compete and thrive on their own terms.
A report by UK Deaf Sport and Women in Sport sheds light on the significant challenges faced by deaf teenage girls in sport. It identifies key barriers such as communication difficulties, lack of inclusive environments, and gender bias that discourage participation. These findings are not unique to the UK—globally, deaf women and girls face systemic obstacles when trying to engage in sport at all levels.
A striking example of this is Cricket Australia’s decision not to support Deaf Cricket Australia women’s team. This choice sends a disappointing message about the priorities within the sport and the level of commitment to true inclusivity. Deaf women and girls in Australia, much like their counterparts in the UK, are being told—explicitly or implicitly—that their participation is not a priority.
The Parallels Between UK and Australian Deaf Women’s Sport
The UK Deaf Sport report highlights the importance of role models, accessible pathways, and a welcoming environment in fostering participation. When governing bodies fail to invest in women’s deaf sport, they reinforce the very barriers that studies like this seek to dismantle. If deaf teenage girls already struggle with access to inclusive environments, how much harder is it when there are no representative teams at a national level?
The impact of this decision extends beyond the cricket field. Sport is a crucial vehicle for confidence, leadership skills, and social connection. By refusing to support the women’s deaf cricket team, Cricket Australia is limiting opportunities for female athletes who already face greater hurdles to participation.
What Needs to Change?
Cricket Australia must reconsider its position and actively support Deaf Cricket by building a women’s programme. This includes:
Providing financial and logistical support to help develop a pathway for deaf female cricketers, just as hearing players have access to structured pathways.
Investing in inclusive coaching by ensuring that coaches are trained to work with deaf athletes, rather than relying solely on interpreters.
Promoting deaf female role models to inspire the next generation of cricketers.
Aligning with broader inclusion efforts seen in other sports that are actively working to break down barriers for women with disabilities.
The Bigger Picture
This is not just about cricket—it’s about ensuring that all athletes, regardless of gender or disability, have access to equal opportunities. The decision by Cricket Australia contradicts the growing global movement towards greater inclusivity in sport. Organisations such as UK Deaf Sport are making strides in addressing these issues, but without the backing of national governing bodies, progress will be slow.
The question is: does Cricket Australia want to be remembered as an organisation that fosters inclusion or one that reinforces exclusion? The choice is theirs, but the consequences will be felt most by those who need support the most.
It’s time for change. Support your national deaf sports!
Two Big Ears 