WSA welcome Wales Deaf Sports as a Full Member 

WSA welcome Wales Deaf Sports as a Full Member 

The Welsh Sports Association (WSA) is delighted to welcome Wales Deaf Sports to the membership base as a Full Member.  

The origins of Wales Deaf Sports can be found all the way back in 1946, when the South Wales Sports Council was created by a group of deaf people who were very interested in playing sports.  

The likes of darts, snooker, billiards, dominoes, swimming and football were played across seven deaf clubs in Bridgend, Cardiff, Llanelli, Pontypridd, Neath, Newport and Swansea. 

A few decades later, the organisation was renamed Wales Deaf Sports to represent deaf people all over Wales. 

Wales Deaf Sports exists to provide support to anyone in sports that needs help with things like training and planning. Its vision until 2030 is to ensure “an inclusive nation where deaf people are active, living healthier, happier, more confident and connected lives”. 

Learn more about Wales Deaf Sports here.

Fellow WSA member Disability Sport Wales (DSW) works alongside Wales Deaf Sports with the delivery of their strategy and ensuring D/deaf sportswomen and sportsmen accessing activity and increasing choice. WDS are engaged with  insport Series events which take place across Wales. 

As a member of the WSA, Wales Deaf Sports will take advantage of the extensive WSA network, liaising with colleagues across the sector to ensure that all deaf people participating in sport are supported.  

Wales Deaf Sports Chair, Gwynne Griffiths, commented: 

“Taking on the responsibility as Chair of WDS has been a real challenge. There are over 500,000 deaf and hard of hearing in Wales, the largest disability group. There are 14 Deaf Sports and Social Clubs, and every Local Authority has Deaf Units in its schools.  

“WDS are working with Wales Council for the Deaf and British Association of Teachers of the Deaf to give opportunities in sport and exercise which is a real challenge.  

“We hope that working with the WSA and its Members will help to make all governing bodies more inclusive by giving deaf sportswomen and sportsmen the opportunity to participate in sport and represent Wales in World and European events, and Deaflympics via our Motto ‘No Barriers; Dim Rhwystro’.”