In an interview by Tom Degun for Inside World Parasport, Craig Crowley, President of the ICSD (International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) has admitted that inclusion in the Paralympic Games is vital for the future of Deaf sport.
Up until now the Deaflympics, which were first held in Paris in 1924, have never been a part of the Paralympic Games.
The article quotes Crowley, who is from the UK, as saying: “Our goal is to reach out to other sports federations and build up our relationship with the IPC (International Paralympic Committee). But the ball is in their court in terms of how they will help us. I think if we can achieve our goal of joining the Paralympics, it will not only benefit deaf athletes but also the Paralympics in their goal to provide accessibility for all groups.”
Crowley says that the Deaflympics, which will next be staged in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, in 2013, has a future. “I think the Deaflympics is sustainable long term as an isolated event, but at the moment we are going through rough waters.” He added: “Right now we are not getting the exposure we need and, therefore, we are not getting the sponsors we need. That is crucial because we want it to be a top event for our athletes.”
You can read the full interview at: http://www.insideworldparasport.biz/insideparasport/10339-exclusive-deaf-athletes-face-uncertain-future-unless-paralympics-opens-its-doors-claims-organisation-chief
By Charlie Swinbourne
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Katherine
May 29, 2012
Just a queastion that i dont know the answer to….Are deaf people not able to enter the main Olympics?
Editor
May 29, 2012
Yes, and a very small number of deaf people do compete in the Olympics. However barriers to inclusion – whether at the games themselves, or more commonly in coaching at earlier stages in their career, make it much more difficult for a deaf sportsman or woman to reach that level. Just recently a deaf American swimmer had to fight for a visual cue so he would know that a race had begun…
Oh Dear
May 29, 2012
“I think the Deaflympics is sustainable long term as an ISOLATED event, but at the moment we are going through rough waters.”
Oh dear…….’isolated’…….why?……It IS the ONLY event…..do disabled people participating in Paralympics label their event ‘isolated’.
Such negativity does no favour and has no place in Deaf sports.
Oh Dear
May 29, 2012
Corrections……..Paralympics label their own event ‘isolated’?
Lesson to oneself…..proof read before clicking the ‘post comment’ button
Anonymous
May 30, 2012
I think you’ve misunderstood his point.
Unlike the Paralympics, which are now joined at the hip with the Olympic Games, the Deaflympics (and the Special Olympics for that matter) are isolated from the other two. They’re held in different years, in different cities and countries and run completely separately.
Cities hosting the Olympics are now contractually required to host the Paralympics too, with the host city selection fully taking into account the needs of the Paralympics. They share a logo and branding, sponsorship (just witness paralympians appearing alongside olympians in adverts right now), and all the other behind the scenes logistics.
Imagine how much bigger the Deaflympics and the Special Olympics could be if they were also part of London 2012?
billash
August 10, 2012
righto!
go away with our false pride, period.
only deaf, we lose!
realize it now or we lose forever.
can we beat or whip the paralymifics??
sadly we are in between athletics.
deaf is so small and we are so poor.