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April 18, 2017
Sport is a source of well-being, values and self-esteem for people who practice it. The Canadian Deaf Sports Association, by its actions, contributes in spreading its benefits through the Deaf community across Canada.
The Silent Games were the first ever for any group of people with disabilities.
The first games, known as the International Silent Games, were held in 1924 in Paris with athletes from nine European nations participating. The games were the brainchild of Eugene Rubens-Alcais, whom deaf and President of the French Deaf Sports Federation.
Furthermore, it was the second created internationally competed games of any kind. The modern-day Olympics was the first. The games were originally known as "International Silent Games" before they became the "World Games for the Deaf". The most recent name, the "Deaflympics" was formally adopted in 2001.
After the initial Paris Games, Deaf sporting leaders assembled at a cafe and established "Le Comite International des Sports Silencieux" (The International Committee of Silent Sports), commonly known as the CISS. Recently, the CISS was renamed Le Comite International des Sports des Sourds (The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf), the ICSD.
Today, the number of national federations in the ICSD membership has reached 108, a big difference from the original 9 countries almost 100 years ago! Among recent newcomers enjoying the benefits of the worldwide network of sports and social inclusion include geographically disparate countries such as Jordan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyztan, Seychelles and Yemen.
Twenty two Summer Games, have been held consistently at 4 year intervals since the initial Paris games. The only exceptions were the cancellation of 1943 and 1947 Games because of World War II.
Winter Deaflympics Games were instituted in 1949 at Seefeld, Austria. It attracted 33 athletes from 5 countries.
The 18th Winter Deaflympics in Khanty-Mansiysk / Magnitogorsk, the Russian Federation, in 2015 included 336 athletes from 27 countries.
Winter Deaflympics were added in 1949. The Summer and Winter Dealympics are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, IOC.
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.
The first Canada Deaf Games were held in 2012 in Edmonton, Alberta with 230 Athletes participating in 6 sports. The event lasted 8 days, with the age of participants ranging between 16-50 years.
Athletes from 9 provinces participated, and overall the event was a resounding success and a major step for Deaf Sport in Canada. The Canada Deaf Games is the biggest National Deaf Sporting event, and Canada's only major multi-sport competition that is exclusively for Deaf athletes.
Eligible Sports the Canada Deaf Games follows the model of the Deaflympic Games, and offers the opportunity for athletes to participate in a variety of sports that are officially sanctioned by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. The following is a list of the sports eligible for participation in the 2018 Canada Deaf Games. Bid communities should indicate all sports that they have the capacity to accommodate as part of the 2018 Canada Deaf Games : Ice Hockey, Curling, Snowboarding, Cross Country, Skiing, Alpine Skiing
At the beginning of the 18th century when societies everywhere viewed deaf people as intellectually inferior, linguistically impoverished and often treated as outcasts.
Mister Rubens-Alcais envisioned the international sports event as the best answer to prove that the deaf were more that what they were viewed. Antoine Dresses, a young deaf Belgian, was instrumental in helping him accomplish his dream.
The 2012 Canada Deaf Games brought in approximately 2000 visitors to the city of Edmonton, and finished with a surplus of more than $35,000. The economic impact is estimated at around $1M.
Durham Region is situated in the highly developed and populated economic center of Ontario, known as the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Situated as the eastern gateway to the GTA, Durham Region is made up for eight area municipalities ranging from large urban centres to small towns, hamlets and villages and his home to more than 650,000 people.
Athletic participation in the Deaflympics has continually grown over the years. In 1924, the initial games started with 148 athletes from 9 countries. In 2013, 2,711 athletes from 83 nations participated in the latest one, the 22nd Summer Deaflympics.
To cherish the value the spirit of Deaflympics where Deaf athletes strive to reach the pinnacle of competition by embracing the motto of " Per ludos a equalitas" (Equality through sports) and adhering to the ideals of Olympics.
The logo, designed in 2003 by graphic design artist Ralph Fernandez, as a positive and powerful symbol of the international deaf community. It ties together strong elements : Sign language, deaf and international cultures, unity and continuity. The hand shapes, "ok", "good", and "great" that overlap each other in a circle, represent the original sign for "Deaflympics". Together, the hand shapes represent the sign for "united". The center of the logo represents the iris of the eye, which defines deaf people as visual people; they must use their eyes to communicate.
The logo incorporates the four colors of the national flags of the world. The red, blue, yellow and green represent the four regional confederations - the Asia Pacific Deaf Sports Confederation, the European Deaf Sports Organization, the Pan American Deaf Sports Organization and the Confederation of African Deaf Sports.
The Canada Deaf Games are an important step in the development pathway for Canadian Deaf athletes to pursue their dreams of representing Canada at the International level during competitions like World Championship, Pan American Games for the Deaf, and the Deaflympics.
They also serve as an important milestone for Deaf sports in Canada as they represent the only National Championship level competition for a number of sports, as well as a key recruitment and selection milestone for CDSA National Team Programs. This event brings together Deaf Canadians from across the country, and the opportunity to share in a love from sport, celebration of Deaf culture, and show of strength for the Deaf Community from coast to coast.
While maintaining and protecting their unique culture, Canada's Deaf are a vital part of the cultural mosaic of Canada
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