The Deaflympic Games

The Deaflympic Games, under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee, is the second oldest multi sport and cultural festival on earth with a long and proud history since the Inaugural Games in Paris in 1924.

In the years prior to 1924, International sports provided limited opportunities for deaf people. Deaf sporting leaders assembled in 1924
and agreed to establish an organisation called the Comité International des Sports des Sourds (CISS); to establish a union between all
deaf National sporting federations and to draft statutes for this organisation to institute and control the quadrennial Games.

This historic meeting heralded the commencement of the Deaflympic Games movement.

The Summer and Winter Deaflympics are among the world's fastest growing sports events. More than 3,200 deaf athletes and officials from 67 nations participated in the 20th Summer Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia, in January 2005. Over 600 athletes and officials participated in the 16th Winter Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, United States in February 2007.

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.

The need for separate games for deaf athletes is not just evident in the numbers of participants. Deaf athletes are distinguished from all others in their special communication needs on the sports field, as well as in the social interaction that is an equally vital part of the games.

Summer Games Disciplines

Athletics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Bowling Cycling Road Football Handball Judo Karate

Orienteering Shooting Swimming Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Volleyball Water Polo Wrestling Freestyle Wrestling Greco-Roman

Winter Games Disciplines:

• Alpine Skiing
• Cross Country Skiing
• Curling
• Ice Hockey
• Snowboard

The Games

Summer Deaflympic Games 1924 - Paris 1928 - Amsterdam 1931 - Nurnberg 1935 - London 1939 - Stockholm 1949 - Copenhagen 1953 - Brussels 1957 - Milan 1961 - Helsinki 1965 - Washington DC 1969 - Belgrade 1973 - Malmo 1977 - Bucharest 1981 - Koln 1985 - Los Angeles 1989 - Christchurch 1993 - Sofia 1997 - Copenhagen 2001 - Rome 2005 - Melbourne 2009 - Taipei 2013 - Athens

Winter Deaflympic Games 1949 - Seefeld 1953 - Oslo 1955 - Oberammergau 1959 - Montana-Vermala 1963 - Are 1967 - Berchtesgaden 1971 - Abelboden 1975 - Lake Placid 1979 - Meribel 1983 - Madonna di Campiglio 1987 - Oslo 1991 - Banff 1995 - Yilas 1999 - Davos 2003 - Sundsvall 2007 - Salt Lake 2011 - High Tatras

Further information

• International Committee of Sports for the Deaf
  

Information provided by Deaf Sports Australia








Reproduced with permission.
Page reviewed: August 2009