Having a ball: Grovedale’s Renee D’Offay competes in the Deaf Games. Picture: Tommy Ritchie 75749
ERIN PEARSON
MORE than 1000 hearing-impaired athletes competed in a 2012 Deaf Games in Geelong this week, according to organisers.
Deaf Sports Australia’s Craig Dodson said competitors from Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji competed in 18 events.
This year’s games were the first to include surfing, with traditional events including cricket, soccer, swimming, athletics, beach volleyball and tennis.
“Beach volleyball was certainly a standout sport this year, with more than 50 competitors taking part,” Mr Dodson said.
“We had huge interest from the community as well, with a massive amount of people walking by stopping to watch.”
Mr Dodson said the event was “extra special” for competitors, many of whom met their husbands and wives at past games.
“It’s a very rare occurrence that you get 1000 members of the deaf community together in one place.”
The games finish on Saturday.
