2013 Athens Deaflympics Summer Games
The 2013 Summer Deaflympics (the 22nd Deaflympics) will be held in Athens, Greece from 31 July to 13 August 2013
The Deaflympics (previously called World Games for the Deaf, and International Games for the Deaf) are an IOC-sanctioned event at which deaf athletes compete at an elite level. The games have been organised by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds (CISS, "The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf") since the first event.
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.”
As the Deaf athletes possess no physical or mental disabilities, but only hearing loss, they are not eligible to participate in the Paralympic Games; instead, they come together in their own competitions designed specifically to satisfy their physical, psychological, and social needs.
To qualify for the Deaflympics, athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 db in their "better ear". Hearing aids, cochlear implants etc. are not allowed to be used, in order to place all athletes on the same level, as the communication between athletes and trainers or team-mates is prevented during the competition.
The use of sign language is allowed, as it can be used by everybody, provided they can see, and it constitutes the language of the community of the deaf people, which most athletes prefer.
The 20 summer Deaflympic events include athletics, badminton, handball, judo, karate, orienteering, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cycling road, football, tennis, volleyball, water polo, wrestling freestyle, wrestling Greco-Roman.
Articles
| Pub. Date | Topic | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 2011-07-07 | Athens Deaflympics 2013 - Lack of Support | International Committee of Sports for the Deaf |
