Deaflympics

What are the Deaflympics?

The Deaflympics are more than just the world's second oldest multiple sports games after the Olympics. They are also among the world's fastest growing sports events.

The Deaflympics are held every 4 years. Previously called World Games for the Deaf, and International Games for the Deaf, the Deaflympics are an IOC-sanctioned event at which Deaf athletes compete at an elite level. The event was last held in Melbourne, Australia, in 2005, and attracted over 3,000 competitors.

The biggest difference between the Deaflympics, Olympics, Paralympics, and other main sporting events is the competitors cannot start a race with a bell, whistle, bullhorn or cannot hear a referee call the play.

Formal international competition in deaf sport began with the 1924 Paris Silent Games, organized by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds, CISS (The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf). These games evolved into the modern Deaflympics, governed by the CISS. The CISS maintains separate games for deaf athletes based on their numbers, their special communication needs on the sports field, and the social interaction that is a vital part of sports.

The games are built on 80 years of tradition. Organized since 1924 by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds, CISS (The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf), the first Summer Deaflympics were held in Paris.

Winter Deaflympics were added in 1949. The Summer and Winter Deaflympics are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, IOC.

To qualify for the games, athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 db in their "better ear". Hearing aids, cochlear implants and the like are not allowed to be used in competition, to place all athletes on the same level.

Summer Deaflympics 2009 - 5 Sep - 15 Sep - Will be held in Taipei, the biggest city of Taiwan.

Winter Deaflympics 2011 - 10 Feb - 20 Feb - To be held in High Tatras (Vysoke Tatry) Slovakia.

Summer Deaflympics 2013 - 31 Jul - 13 Aug - To be held in Athens Greece. Deputy Minister of Sports Yannis Ioannidis said that at least 5000 athletes from 100 countries and their 10,000 companions and officials will participate in Deaflympics 2013, making it “another great sports event hosted by Greece” which is certain “to have a success, comparable to that of the Athens 2004 Olympics Games.”

The current Summer and Winter Deaflympics programme includes 25 disciplines:

During the countdown for the 2009 Taipei event Jackie Chan, (actor), sung the 2009 Deaflympics theme song “Power in Me” and told the crowd about an accident in Yugoslavia which left him with decreased hearing in one ear. He encouraged everyone to keep trying their best and never to give up in order to succeed.

Unlike other games for athletes with disabilities, which are all directed by non-disabled officials, the Deaflympics are run by deaf people for deaf athletes.

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