Ratcliffe has a long association with deaf sport and the Deaflympics having competed for Britain in water polo at the 1985 Games in Los Angeles.

He returned to the Deaflympics as Britain’s Chef de Mission in 2005, when the 20th edition of the Games was held in Melbourne.

Ratcliffe currently works for the English Federation of Disability Sport as director of development.

He will take up his Chef de Mission role in a voluntary capacity, joining Britain’s 2017 Deaflympics team ahead of the Games which are scheduled to take place from July 18 to 30.

"It is an absolute honour to have been given the opportunity to be Chef de Mission for the GB Deaflmypic Team at Samsun 2017," said Ratcliffe.

"Having led the team in Melbourne 2005, I am looking forward to working with the athletes and officials once again as well as our partners to prepare as effectively as we can for the games and beyond."

Craig Crowley, UKDS Honorary President, added: "I am delighted the UKDS Board has appointed Chris Ratcliffe as Chef de Mission for DeaflympicGB team at Summer Deaflympics 2017.

"Chris was particularly successful during his previous stint in 2005 in Melbourne, Australia where he helped to achieve GB’s medal target.

"I am certain DeaflympicGB athletes will welcome this excellent appointment and that Chris will use his vast experience to help and inspire them to achieve their best for 2017."

The Deaflympics, previously known as the World Games for the Deaf, is an International Olympic Committee-sanctioned event at which deaf athletes compete at an elite level.

Held every four years, it is the longest running multi-sport event excluding the Olympics themselves.

The event in Samsun will be the 23rd edition of the Summer Deaflympic Games, an event first held in Paris in 1924.

"I am very pleased that we are able to appoint a Chef de Mission of Chris Ratcliffe’s calibre for Samsun 2017," added Piers Martin, UKDS trustee and chairman of the Performance Committee.

"Chris is very much aligned with our objective to raise the standards of the DeaflympicGB Team and unite the athletes and his experience will undoubtedly help us to deliver this."

Britain's team of 49 finished 33rd in the overall medals table at Sofia 2013, winning a total of five medals - two silvers and three bronzes. 

The last gold medal won by Britain in the Deaflympics came at Tapei 2009, when tennis players Catherine Fletcher and Anthony Sinclair claimed the mixed doubles title.