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.

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").

Summer Games

	Summer Deaflympic Games
Year	Games	Host City	Country
1924 Summer Deaflympics	I	Paris
1928 Summer Deaflympics	II	Amsterdam
1931 Summer Deaflympics	III	Nuremberg
1935 Summer Deaflympics	IV	London
1939 Summer Deaflympics	V	Stockholm
No games were held between 1940-1948 due to World War II
1949 Summer Deaflympics	VI	Copenhagen
1953 Summer Deaflympics	VII	Brussels
1957 Summer Deaflympics	VIII	Milan
1961 Summer Deaflympics	IX	Helsinki
1965 Summer Deaflympics	X	Washington
1969 Summer Deaflympics	XI	Belgrade
1973 Summer Deaflympics	XII	Malmö
1977 Summer Deaflympics	XIII	Bucharest
1981 Summer Deaflympics	XIV	Cologne
1985 Summer Deaflympics	XV	Los Angeles
1989 Summer Deaflympics	XVI	Christchurch
1993 Summer Deaflympics	XVII	Sofia
1997 Summer Deaflympics	XVIII	Copenhagen
2001 Summer Deaflympics	XIX	Rome
2005 Summer Deaflympics	XX	Melbourne
2009 Summer Deaflympics	XXI	Taipei	(Taiwan)
2013 Summer Deaflympics	XXII	Athens

Winter Games

	Winter Deaflympic Games
Year	Games	Host City	Country
1949 Winter Deaflympics	I	Seefeld
1953 Winter Deaflympics	II	Oslo
1955 Winter Deaflympics	III	Oberammergau
1959 Winter Deaflympics	IV	Montana-Vermala
1963 Winter Deaflympics	V	Are
1967 Winter Deaflympics	VI	Berchtesgaden
1971 Winter Deaflympics	VII	Adelboden
1975 Winter Deaflympics	VIII	Lake Placid, New York
1979 Winter Deaflympics	IX	Meribel
1983 Winter Deaflympics	X	Madonna di Campiglio
1987 Winter Deaflympics	XI	Oslo
1991 Winter Deaflympics	XII	Banff
1995 Winter Deaflympics	XIII	Ylläs
1999 Winter Deaflympics	XIV	Davos
2003 Winter Deaflympics	XV	Sundsvall
2007 Winter Deaflympics	XVI	Salt Lake City
2011 Winter Deaflympics	XVII	High Tatras

External links

• Salt Lake City 2007 Winter Deaflympics
• CISS/Deaflympics
• Asia Pacific Deaf Sports Confederation
• U.S.A. Deaf Sports Federation
• Deaf Sports Australia
• Malaysia Sports Federation of the Deaf

References

• Deaflympics official website
• Gallaudet University deaf sports FAQ