A twenty-strong team of Irish athletes fly to Rome this morning for the 19th World Deaf Games. Regarded as the equivalent of an Olympic Games for deaf athletes, the event is recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
Some 20 athletes from this State and Northern Ireland will take part in the "Deaflympics", competing in the swimming and soccer events. The number of countries taking part is 75.
Mr Sean Kelly, president of the Irish Deaf Sports Association (IDSA), is optimistic that the team will take home medals next month.
"The two swimmers, Alan Turner from Dublin and David McIlroy from Co Antrim, are brilliant and have been achieving very respectable times. I am very hopeful they will win medals.
"Ten players from the football squad will be making their debuts in the World Deaf Games."
Asked why there is a separate organisation for deaf athletes, Mr Kelly said deaf sportspeople have difficulty accessing facilities aimed at people with hearing and need coaches and events organised to accommodate their communication difficulties.
Mr Turner, a swimming coach for the Aer Lingus team, and Mr McIlroy take part in their first event tomorrow week at the Foro Italico pool in Rome.
The Irish deaf soccer squad includes Joseph Watson of Waterford United FC and Richard Dougherty of Lisburn Distillery FC. The team captain, Mr Geoffrey McCormack, said he was looking forward to the games. "Our first match against the Ukraine is on Thursday so we have only two days to get used to the temperatures. But I'm really looking forward to it."
The association gets an annual grant of £26,790 from the Irish Sports Council, plus £11,250 towards their participation in the games.
