Taiwan will be welcoming athletes from all over the world for the 21st Summer Deaflympics in Taipei. Running from September 5th through the 15th this year, with 81 countries and 3,959 athletes participating, the games promise to be memorable.
The U.S. team arrived in Taiwan on Aug. 28. Its 198 athletes will compete in 17 sports. Sports included in the games are: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Cycling, Football, Handball, Orienteering, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling Freestyle, Wrestling Greco-Roman, Karate, Judo and Taekwondo.
This is the first time the Deaflympics have been hosted in Asia, and preparations have been enthusiastic and intense. Above and beyond readying the sports venues, great care has been taken in training volunteers in internationally communicative sign language and upgrading services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, such as Police and Fire Department emergency fax and text message hotlines.
The Deaflympics were originally known as the World Games for the Deaf. The first Deaflympics were held in Paris, France in 1924. More than 3,600 athletes from 97 countries participated at the 20th Summer Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia. The United States has hosted two Summer Deaflympics, the first in 1965 in Washington, DC and the second in Los Angeles in 1985.
The Opening Ceremonies on September 5th in Taipei will include a performance by world-renowned deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie joined by a local drum performance group, as well as a special performance titled "Impossible Dream" by famous Taiwanese model Palina Lin.
"We are fully confident of making the opening show an unforgettable one for everyone involved," said event artistic director Stan Lai on Aug. 27. He added that Deaflympics athletes and Taiwan share one thing in common, "both need to be heard and understood."
For more information about the 21st Deaflympics, please visit the websitehttp://english.2009deaflympics.org/bin/home.php. For information about the U.S. Deaflympics, go to: http://www.usdeaflympics.org/ |
