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Deaflympics 2005Sport and politics | Deaf games and Deaf identity | Links If you're worried about withdrawal symptoms after Euro 2004, the Athens Olympics and all the rest of this summer's packed sporting schedule, relax. The Deaflympics are coming! Between 5 and 16 January 2005, in Melbourne, Australia, athletes from 85 different countries will compete in 16 different events in the 20th Deaflypmic Games. About 80 people will represent Great Britain, in athletics, badminton, football, ten-pin bowling, swimming, tennis and table-tennis. The Deaflympics is the second oldest international sporting event in the world, after the Olympics themselves. The first World Deaf Games were held in Paris in 1924. The sister event, the Winter Deaflympics, have been held every four years since January 1949. Melbourne will be staging a cultural and social festival alongside the sports programme, so there will be plenty to do if you can afford the air fare but you're not a sports fanatic. Sport and politicsThe Great Britain team has been awarded a grant of £75,000 towards its costs in Melbourne. This is the largest grant ever made to a British Deaflympic team, but many deaf athletes will still have to raise their own funds. And because money is tight, it's difficult for athletes to train together. So why don't the Deaflympics have the same sort of profile and funding as the Paralympics? International sports politics may have something to do with it. Although the Comité International des Sports des Sourds (CISS, or International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) says that the Deaflympics 'receives official recognition and patronage from the International Olympic Committee', you will search the IOC website in vain for any mention of the event. CISS says that it has been recognised by the IOC since 1955. But in 1995 CISS withdrew from the International Paralympic Committee because it wanted to retain its independence and separate games. The IOC said at the time it would continue to recognise and support CISS and the Deaflympics, but clearly the games aren't at the top of the IOC's agenda, to say the least. Deaf games and Deaf identityWhy insist on having a separate games for deaf people at all? It's all about Deaf identity. If you're deaf (or Deaf!), do you think of yourself as physically disabled, or as part of a cultural and linguistic minority? Amongst themselves, deaf people experience no disability and can compete without restrictions. But among hearing people, whether able-bodied or disabled, they are often excluded and restricted by access and communication problems. So the Deaflympics is a unique opportunity for deaf athletes – and spectators – from around the world, breaking down barriers of nationality, access and communication. To compete in the Deaflympics, an athlete must have at least 55 decibels of hearing loss in their better ear. Otherwise, the only difference between the events in the Olympics and Deaflympics is the need for visual cues. For example, a set of lights replaces the starter's gun. So what do you think about the status of the Deaflympics and deaf sports in general, and the way they are run? Are you in favour of special events for deaf people, or do you support integration? Let us know on the message board. LinksDeaflympics CISS Comité International des Sports des Sourds (CISS
or International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) The World Games for the Deaf and the Paralympic Games UK Deaf Sports British Deaf Sports Council Great Britain Deaf Football |
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