Deaflympics facts for kids
| Comité International des Sports des Sourds | |
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Deaflympics Logo
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| Motto | PER LUDOS AEQUALITAS (Equality through sport) |
| First event | 1924 in Paris, France – 1924 Summer Deaflympics |
| Occur every | 4 years |
| Last event | 2024 in Erzurum, Turkey – 2024 Winter Deaflympics (Winter) |
| Next event | 2025 Summer Deaflympics, Tokyo, Japan |
| Purpose | Provision of opportunities for deaf persons to participate in elite sports |
| Website | |
The Deaflympics are a special series of sports events where deaf athletes from all over the world compete. These games are approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), just like the regular Olympics or Paralympics. What makes the Deaflympics unique is that athletes cannot use sounds to help them. This means no starting pistols, no referee whistles, and no loud commands.
The games have been organized by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds (CISS), which means "The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf," since the very first event in 1924.
Contents
History of the Games
The Deaflympics happen every four years. They are one of the oldest multi-sport events in history, second only to the Olympics. The first games were held in Paris, France, in 1924. This was the first time an international sports event was held specifically for athletes with a disability.
The games have taken place every four years since then, except for a break during World War II. In 1949, the Deaflympic Winter Games were added. The first games started small, with 148 athletes from nine European countries. Today, it's a huge global event.
The games have had a few different names over the years:
- From 1924 to 1965, they were called the "International Games for the Deaf." Sometimes people also called them the "International Silent Games."
- From 1966 to 1999, they were known as the "World Games for the Deaf." People also sometimes called them the "World Silent Games."
- Since 2001, the games have been called the Deaflympics.
How Athletes Qualify and Compete
To join the Deaflympics, athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in their better ear. To make sure everyone competes fairly, athletes are not allowed to use Hearing aids, cochlear implants, or similar devices during the games.
The way games are played is also a bit different. Since athletes can't hear sounds, other methods are used:
- In football, referees wave a flag instead of blowing a whistle.
- For track races, a light is used to start the race instead of a starter pistol.
- When spectators want to cheer, they don't clap or shout. Instead, they wave both hands in the air. This is the Deaf way of showing applause!
In 2022, after certain events, the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) decided that athletes from Russia and Belarus could not compete in the Deaflympics held in Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
Host Cities Around the World
The Summer Deaflympic Games have been held in 24 cities across 20 countries. Most of these cities were in Europe. Only a few times have the games been held outside Europe, like in Washington, D.C. (1965), Los Angeles (1985), Christchurch (1989), Melbourne (2005), Taipei (2009), and Caxias do Sul (2022). The most recent summer games took place in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2022.
The Winter Deaflympic Games have been hosted by 17 cities in 12 countries. The last winter games were in Erzurum, Turkey, in 2024. The next summer games are planned for Tokyo, Japan, from November 15 to November 26, 2025.
The 2011 Winter Games, which were supposed to be in Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia, were cancelled. This happened because the people organizing the games were not ready to host them.
Unique Aspects of the Deaflympics
The Deaflympics are special because of their rules for athletes. As mentioned, athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in their better ear to qualify. They cannot use hearing aids or cochlear implants during competition. This rule ensures that all athletes are on an equal playing field.
Also, the way sports are managed is different. For example, football referees use flags instead of whistles. Track races start with lights instead of pistols. These changes make sure that deaf athletes can compete fairly and safely.
Recent Developments
The next big event for the Deaflympics is the 2025 Summer Deaflympics. These games will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from November 15 to November 26, 2025. This will be the first time Japan hosts the Deaflympics, which is an exciting step for the event!
Notable Athletes
Many amazing athletes have competed in the Deaflympics. Here are a couple of examples:
- Terence Parkin: This swimmer from South Africa is one of the most successful Deaflympians ever. He has won 33 medals in swimming events at the Deaflympics. He also competed in the regular 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he won a silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke.
- Reed Gershwind: An American swimmer, Reed Gershwind has earned 30 medals at the Deaflympics. This makes him one of the most successful athletes in the history of the games.
Images for kids
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Deaflympics Logo
See also
In Spanish: Sordolimpiadas para niños
- Disabled sports
