UK Deaf Sport (UKDS) delegates, Craig Crowley and Gordon Hay attended European Deaf Sports Organisation (EDSO) Congress on 18 and 19 October 2018 in Greece.
Craig and Gordon joined up with other delegates from 32 European countries to discuss matters related to Deaf Sport at the European level.
A total of 60 delegates attended and oversaw EDSO Board elections as well with all member countries agreement way for EDSO to take forward.
The accomplishments during the Congress were: –
1. UK Deaf Sport’s International Objective: “to enact change within the International Deaf Sport Bodies. The changes to yield good governance and transparency of the IDS bodies” is set in motion by its delegates and received similar support and thinking from other countries.
2. Delegates supported the need of having a European Reform in line with ICSD’s Reform Initiative.
3. The nomination of Philip Gerrard for the EDSO Secretary General has been a notable success with the biggest number of votes of the entire Congress.
UK Deaf Sport would like to recognise the achievement of Andrew Scolding who received a Long Service Medal for his work with EDSO as Technical Director of Football in the past 13 years, he sat during the Heraklion Congress as minutes taker. He also oversaw the draw for the European Deaf Football Championship 2019, taking place during the Congress with presence of all delegates and the Mayor of Crete.
Another notable recognition related to British individuals who attended the Congress are of Mark Wheatley, Executive Director of the European Union of the Deaf who gave a useful presentation on the Erasmus+ funding from the EU and its funding allocations and opportunities to sport and disability during 2014-2018.
Philip Gerrard was also at the Congress as a member of the EDSO Legal Commission, having chaired the motions session.
Finally, we recognised the work that both delegates who did some positive lobbying on the need for the European Reform.
UK Deaf Sport delegates thanked UK Deaf Sport Board for their support and commitment despite still having received no financial support from the UK Government.
