UK Deaf Sport, (UKDS) today (Tuesday 12 January) announces the appointment of Chris Ratcliffe as Chef de Mission for the DeaflympicGB Team at the Summer Deaflympics 2017 in Samsun, Turkey. Chris has a long association with deaf sport and the Deaflympics. In 1985 Chris competed for Great Britain (GB) in water polo at the Games in Los Angeles. Then in 2005, he returned to the Deaflympics as Chef de Mission for the GB team, when the 20th edition of the Games were held in Melbourne, Australia. Chris currently works for the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) as Director of Development. Chris will join the DeaflympicsGB Team for the 2017 Deaflympic Games in Samsun, Turkey, and will take up his Chef de Mission role in a voluntary capacity. UKDS Honorary President, Craig Crowley, commented: “I am delighted the UKDS Board has appointed Chris Ratcliffe as Chief de Mission for DeaflympicGB team at Summer Deaflympics 2017. Chris was particularly successful during his previous stint in 2005 in Melbourne, Australia where he helped to achieve GB’s medal target. I am certain DeaflympicGB athletes will welcome this excellent appointment and that Chris will use his vast experience to help and inspire them to achieve their best for 2017.” UKDS Trustee and Chair of the Performance Committee, Piers Martin, said: “I am very pleased that we are able to appoint a Chef de Mission of Chris Ratcliffe’s calibre for Samsun 2017. Chris is very much aligned with our objective to raise the standards of the DeaflympicGB Team and unite the athletes and his experience will undoubtedly help us to deliver this.” Chris Ratcliffe said: “It is an absolute honour to have been given the opportunity to be Chef de Mission for the GB Deaflmypic Team at Samsun 2017. Having led the team in Melbourne 2005 I am looking forward to working with the athletes and officials once again as well as our partners to prepare as effectively as we can for the games and beyond.” The Deaflympics, previously known as the World Games for the Deaf are an International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctioned event at which deaf athletes compete at an elite level. The 2017 summer Deaflympics take place in Samsun, Turkey from 18 Jul 2017 – 30 Jul 2017.
