Miss-Delectable
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The Herald : Sport: MAIN SPORT
REBECCA COOKE has a hearing impairment, but it has not stopped her from twice winning 800 metres freestyle gold, at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games.
For many youngsters, however, consequences of deafness are devastating: captive in their homes, scared of ridicule, bullying, and victimisation.
Douglas Rathey holds the world and European 800m athletics record for an under-17, and has a job as a leisure attendant. Sport has helped redeem his life.
"I was always in fights when I was younger. I had a lot of problems," he confesses. "I knew other people were no better than me and got very frustrated. Now I have got a job, and I'm proud of myself."
Rathey runs with Giffnock North, and set the record last June. He has run for Britain at the European Indoor Championships, while another deaf Scot, Gerry Hughes, has sailed the Atlantic single-handed.
Deaf sport was eloquent yesterday in promoting their newest agenda, and the rest of the UK is listening.
The Deaf Active Futures Project, launched at Glasgow's Gorbals Leisure Centre, aims to release the sporting potential of young hearing-impaired people. It is by way of a pilot.
The aim is to attract 17-24 year-olds into regular sport and recreation. It's the fruit of a partnership between Glasgow City Council, Sports Council for Glasgow, Deaf Connections, West of Scotland Deaf Children's Society, the National Deaf Children's Society (Scotland), and Scottish Deaf Association.
Stuart Harrison, development manager for UK Deaf Sport, said: "A lot of trustees and chief executives of deaf organisations in England are very keen to set up similar projects," he said.
The project has three-year funding from the Big Lottery. A new deaf community sport club has been formed at the Gorbals centre, and will meet every Tuesday, from 2-4pm.
Coaching and support in badminton, circuit training, football and swimming is available, with qualified coaches, a critical issue.
Kathleen Bennett, a 21-year-old from Irvine, competed in the Deaflympics and European Championships. She has won three major medals, but has found it impossible to continue, because her coach was inadequately trained in signing. "I'd to use my mother as an interpreter," she said. "I could not be bothered, and it became difficult with job commitments, so I gave up."
Steve Gardiner plays junior football with Scone Thistle, a strapping striker. He's been in the GB team for the Deaflympics and gained an HND in aeronautical engineering. But three yars on he's been unable to get a job using this qualification. So he works as a bar manager in a Dundee restaurant. "I know I'll never play at the highest level, but I'm looking forward to playing in the European Championships for Britain this summer," he says.
Cooke was an Olympian in Athens and Sydney, yet can't hear the bell or whistle for the final length. "I've to pay particular attention to the lap counter," she said. From Reading but resident in Glasgow for six years, she adds: "I hope that this project will let everyone understand that deafness is not a barrier. Not to be able to enjoy sport is a travesty."
For further details contact: paul@deafconnections.co.uk
REBECCA COOKE has a hearing impairment, but it has not stopped her from twice winning 800 metres freestyle gold, at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games.
For many youngsters, however, consequences of deafness are devastating: captive in their homes, scared of ridicule, bullying, and victimisation.
Douglas Rathey holds the world and European 800m athletics record for an under-17, and has a job as a leisure attendant. Sport has helped redeem his life.
"I was always in fights when I was younger. I had a lot of problems," he confesses. "I knew other people were no better than me and got very frustrated. Now I have got a job, and I'm proud of myself."
Rathey runs with Giffnock North, and set the record last June. He has run for Britain at the European Indoor Championships, while another deaf Scot, Gerry Hughes, has sailed the Atlantic single-handed.
Deaf sport was eloquent yesterday in promoting their newest agenda, and the rest of the UK is listening.
The Deaf Active Futures Project, launched at Glasgow's Gorbals Leisure Centre, aims to release the sporting potential of young hearing-impaired people. It is by way of a pilot.
The aim is to attract 17-24 year-olds into regular sport and recreation. It's the fruit of a partnership between Glasgow City Council, Sports Council for Glasgow, Deaf Connections, West of Scotland Deaf Children's Society, the National Deaf Children's Society (Scotland), and Scottish Deaf Association.
Stuart Harrison, development manager for UK Deaf Sport, said: "A lot of trustees and chief executives of deaf organisations in England are very keen to set up similar projects," he said.
The project has three-year funding from the Big Lottery. A new deaf community sport club has been formed at the Gorbals centre, and will meet every Tuesday, from 2-4pm.
Coaching and support in badminton, circuit training, football and swimming is available, with qualified coaches, a critical issue.
Kathleen Bennett, a 21-year-old from Irvine, competed in the Deaflympics and European Championships. She has won three major medals, but has found it impossible to continue, because her coach was inadequately trained in signing. "I'd to use my mother as an interpreter," she said. "I could not be bothered, and it became difficult with job commitments, so I gave up."
Steve Gardiner plays junior football with Scone Thistle, a strapping striker. He's been in the GB team for the Deaflympics and gained an HND in aeronautical engineering. But three yars on he's been unable to get a job using this qualification. So he works as a bar manager in a Dundee restaurant. "I know I'll never play at the highest level, but I'm looking forward to playing in the European Championships for Britain this summer," he says.
Cooke was an Olympian in Athens and Sydney, yet can't hear the bell or whistle for the final length. "I've to pay particular attention to the lap counter," she said. From Reading but resident in Glasgow for six years, she adds: "I hope that this project will let everyone understand that deafness is not a barrier. Not to be able to enjoy sport is a travesty."
For further details contact: paul@deafconnections.co.uk