Salvos play their part in Asia-Pacific Deaf Basketball Championships

The Salvation Army helped support the international basketball event. Charlie (centre) is pictured with Bryan (left) and Simon (right) from the World International Basketball Federation Committee, a Hong Kong basketballer and event volunteer.

BY LERISSE SMITH

The Asia-Pacific Deaf Basketball Championships, held during the International Week of the Deaf (20-26 September), was a great success, with the Australian men’s team winning gold and the women’s team being awarded silver medals.

The Salvation Army helped support the Melbourne event with Major Charlie Jacobsen’s involvement on the Expression Australia’s Community Advisory Group, and Majors Jennifer Cloke and Andrea Elkington from Kingston City Salvos providing a commuter bus and generously donating six boxes of new sports socks for Deaf basketballers.

Charlie said it was an amazing event.

“Congratulations to all players from the countries for their hard work and determination throughout the tournament,” he said.

“The organising committee, Deaf International Basketball Federation (DIBF) officials, Deaf Connect, Expression Australia (EA) and Expression Audiologist, tireless volunteers, referees, talented photographers, video technology livestreaming, Auslan and other country translators/Interpreters, the State Basketball Stadium, family and friends made it a great success.”

Expression Australia Audiologist Gloria Lee with one of the Deaf basketballers who recently participated in the Melbourne event.

Through his involvement with the advisory group, Charlie was invited as a volunteer to drive a minibus for the organising committee, the Deaf International Basketball Federation.

The Asia-Pacific Deaf Basketball Championships (APDBC) involved six countries: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Mongolia, and the Philippines.

One requirement in participating in the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) sanctioned deaf sports events is that athletes are required to have a hearing loss of 55db in the better ear. Deaf sport requires that no hearing devices be worn during games/championships.

Expression Australia provided support by testing the athletes at its Australian offices in Collingwood and Oakleigh, where they were cared for by EA Audiologists. Additionally, the organisation helped transport the team members to their office sites.

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