Canadian athletes raising funds to compete in Japan Deaflympics

Athletes with the opportunity to compete in this year's Deaflympics were at Calgary city hall for International Sign Language Day.

There’s a rich history to the Deaflympics, starting in Paris in 1924.

Marisol Narvaez is a marathon runner who is set to compete in her first Deaflympics this year in Japan.

Narvaez lost complete hearing in one ear after a car accident when she was seven years old.

She’s now starting to lose hearing in her other ear as well.

Narvaez says she’s proud to have the opportunity to wear the red and white and represent Canada at the games.

“What an absolute honour to be able to represent both the deaf and hard of hearing community and also my country and the sport of marathon,” she said.

Financial crisis

But Narvaez and others may not be able to go to Japan because of a severe financial crisis faced by Canada’s deaf athletes.

Narvaez is still hopeful they’ll raise enough money to get them there.

“This is an opportunity for elite athletes to come to an international stage, and to not be able to have that opportunity because funding was the barrier is incredibly disheartening,” she said.

“I think there is an opportunity to have that conversation and build awareness but also an opportunity for people to step up and donate to athletes like myself to help send us to games like this.”

Raising funds

The Canadian Deaf Sports Association knows there are hurdles.

Jonathan Guinta, who is involved in the organization, says they need people to step up.

“I know that today our economic climate has changed a great deal and governments are only able to offer limited support,” he said through an interpreter.

“So the Canadian Deaf Sports Association is also then fundraising, so that we can provide $100,000 that can go to supporting our athletes.”

International Sign Language Day

On Tuesday, the deaf community celebrated International Sign Language Day at Calgary’s city hall and raised the Deaf Unity flag.

Jacqui Burnham, president of the Calgary Association of the Deaf, wanted to send a message that no matter what walk of life they’re in, deaf people can excel.

“We want to show the potential of deaf people’s lives in any area,” she said.

“Deaf people can do anything; there are no limitations. To be deaf is to really focus on what are one’s abilities, not their inabilities.”

Donations to send athletes to the games can be made at https://assc-sourdlympiques.ca/en.