Deaflympics

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 Deaflympics are held every 4 years, and are the longest running multi-sport event excluding the Olympics themselves. The first games, held in Paris in 1924, were also the first ever international sporting event for athletes with a disability. The event has been held every four years since, apart from a break for World War II, and an additional event, the Deaflympic Winter Games, was added in 1949. At the first Games in Paris, 145 athletes from nine European nations took part. In 2005 the 20th Games were held in Melbourne, Australia, and according to the Deaflympics website, "more than 3,000 deaf athletes and officials from 75 nations" participated.

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. Other examples of ways the games vary from hearing competitions are the manner in which they are officiated. The football referees wave a flag instead of blowing a whistle. On the track, races are started by using a light flash, instead of a starter pistol.

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.

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Names of the Games

Officially, the games were originally called the "International Games for the Deaf" from 1924 to 1965, but were sometimes referred to as the "International Silent Games". From 1966 to 1999 they were called the "World Games for the Deaf", and occasionally referred to as the "World Silent Games". From 2000, the games have been known by their current name "Deaflympics" (often mistakenly called the "Deaf Olympics").

Future Games

21st Summer Games, 2009 - Taipei, Chinese Taipei
17th Winter Games, 2011 - High Tatras, Slovakia
22nd Summer Games, 2013 - Athens, Greece

Past Games

Summer Games

1st Summer Games, 1924 - Paris, France
2nd Summer Games, 1928 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
3rd Summer Games, 1931 - Nuremberg, West Germany
4th Summer Games, 1935 - London, England
5th Summer Games, 1939 - Stockholm, Sweden

• No games were held between 1940-1948 due to World War II

6th Summer Games, 1949 - Copenhagen, Denmark
7th Summer Games, 1953 - Brussels, Belgium
8th Summer Games, 1957 - Milan, Italy
9th Summer Games, 1961 - Helsinki, Finland
10th Summer Games, 1965 - Washington, USA
11th Summer Games, 1969 - Belgrade, Yugoslavia
12th Summer Games, 1973 - Malmö, Sweden
13th Summer Games, 1977 - Bucharest, Romania
14th Summer Games, 1981 - Cologne, West Germany
15th Summer Games, 1985 - Los Angeles, USA
16th Summer Games, 1989 - Christchurch, New Zealand
17th Summer Games, 1993 - Sofia, Bulgaria
18th Summer Games, 1997 - Copenhagen, Denmark
19th Summer Games, 2001 - Rome, Italy
20th Summer Games, 2005 - Melbourne, Australia

Winter Games

1st Winter Games, 1949 - Seefeld, Austria
2nd Winter Games, 1953 - Oslo, Norway
3rd Winter Games, 1955 - Oberammergau, West Germany
4th Winter Games, 1959 - Montana-Vermala, Switzerland
5th Winter Games, 1963 - Are, Sweden
6th Winter Games, 1967 - Berchtesgaden, Germany
7th Winter Games, 1971 - Adelboden, Switzerland
8th Winter Games, 1975 - Lake Placid, New York, USA
9th Winter Games, 1979 - Meribel, France
10th Winter Games, 1983 - Madonna di Campiglio, Italy
11th Winter Games, 1987 - Oslo, Norway
12th Winter Games, 1991 - Banff, Canada
13th Winter Games, 1995 - Ylläs, Finland
14th Winter Games, 1999 - Davos, Switzerland
15th Winter Games, 2003 - Sundsvall, Sweden
16th Winter Games, 2007 - Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

References

• Deaflympics official website
• Gallaudet University deaf sports FAQ