British Orienteering are working with UK Deaf Sport to understand the demand for and potential of a Great Britain orienteering team entering the Deaflympics in 2021.

Orienteering is one of the 18 sports recognised for the summer Deaflympics which will be held in either Dubai or Los Angeles in 2021. The orienteering competitions will be conducted using International Orienteering Federation (IOF) rules and consists of the usual formats for men and women; Sprint, Middle, Long, Mixed Sprint Relay and Forest Relay.

We are seeking to determine the interest of members and others who may be eligible to represent Great Britain at the next Deaflympics in 2021.

To indicate your interest in competing for a Great Britain deaf orienteering team or volunteering to support the team please complete this questionnaire by Sunday 29^th April 2018.

Eligibility

For an athlete with a disability to participate in international disability sport competitions such as the Deaflympics they must first meet minimum eligibility criteria and be a member of an affiliated national association.

To be eligible to compete in the Deaflympics, athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in the better ear.  Athletes are forbidden to use any kind of hearing amplifications during the competition to avoid taking an unfair advantage over those not using these devices.

At this stage we are unlikely to be able to provide any financial resource to support a team, however, we do feel that as a body committed to inclusiveness and diversity we should explore the options for assisting the identification of possible athletes before exploring the levels of support that we can offer.

To indicate your interest in competing for a Great Britain deaf orienteering team or volunteering to support the team please complete this questionnaire by Sunday 29^th April.

About the Deaflympics

Under the Patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Deaflympics is the second oldest multi-sport and cultural festival in the world, with a proud history stretching back to the first Games in Paris, in 1924. The Summer Deaflympics is among the world’s fastest growing sports events.

Deaf athletes participating in the Deaflympics get an opportunity to enjoy that same Olympic experience as their hearing counterparts.

To find out more about the Deaflympics visit the UK Deaf Sport website here.