3/27/2008
Krystin Dougherty
The Deaf Community and Sports
“The term Deaf sports refers to sports activities by deaf people as well
as the surrounding activities relating to the organization of Deaf sport
events and the spectators who watch them” (Stewart & Ellis). Deaf sports are
designed specifically for deaf people. For example, in athletics, water
polo, and swimming, instead of a gunshot or a whistle going off to start the
race, they use a lighting system. In team sports, such as football, referees
use a flag to signal the players instead of a whistle (The Official Website
of UK Deaf Sport).
Sports for the deaf community provide athletic competition without
compromising athleticism. They also provide an opportunity for social
interaction with other people who are in their position.
Before the 1920’s, there were not any programs being held for any type of
disability group. A deaf man named Eugène Rubens-Alcais changed all that. He
envisioned a national Olympics for deaf people. So he made a similar version
of the Olympics that were designed specifically for the deaf. Because of
this, he came to be known as the father of modern Olympics. Antoine Dresse
shared this dream with Eugene, so he helped to accomplish this goal
(International Committee of Sports for the Deaf). Together they created the
International Silent games in 1924. The first summer games were held in
Paris and included 9 nations and 145 athletes (International Committee of
Sports for the Deaf). Some of the games included were cycling, diving,
football, shooting, swimming and tennis (International Committee of Sports
for the Deaf). In 1949, the winter games were added. The first winter games
were held in Seefeld, Austria and included 5 countries and 33 athletes
(International Committee of Sports for the Deaf).
Since 2003, the International Silent games have been known as the
deaflympics. The next deaflympics is scheduled for February 10, 2011 in High
Tatras, Slovakia (American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association). The
deaflympics has made tremendous progress in the number of countries and
athletes that attend. In 2005, 2200 athletes from 70 countries participated
(International Committee of Sports for the Deaf).
There are many famous deaf athletes. The American Athletic Association of
the Deaf started a Hall of Fame in 1952. Since 1955, they annually pick an
athlete of the year. William Hoy was first of the many people inducted into
their Hall of Fame. William Hoy was an outstanding baseball player. He
played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Senators. He was the man
who came up with the signs that baseball umpires use when they declare
strike, out, ball, safe, etc. In 1952, he was inducted into the American
Athletic Association of the Deaf’s Hall of Fame (Think Quest).
A more recent deaf athlete that is very well known is Terrence Parkin. In
2000, Terrence competed in the Olympics in Sydney. There, he was awarded the
silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke. At the 2005 deaflympics he
competed in the 400-meter free style race and received the gold medal (Berke).
He also competed in the 50-meter breaststroke event, where he received the
gold medal and broke the existing record (News 24).
Works Cited
American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association. http://www.ahiha.org/info.asp?ID=16&Path=T1,0006
Berke, Jamie. (2007, June 13). People - Terrence Parkin, Deaf Swimmer.
http://deafness.about.com/od/sports/p/terrenceparkin.htm
The Official Website of UK Deaf Sport. http://www.ukdeafsport.org.uk/dyncat.cfm?catid=27393#Deaf%20and%20Coping%20with%20whistles
International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. http://www.deaflympics.com/news/index.asp?ID=243
International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. http://www.deaflympics.com/news/index.asp?ID=242
International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. http://www.deaflympics.com/games/participant.asp?GamesID=1
News 24. http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/More_Sport/0,9294,2-9-32_1644651,00.html
Stewart, D.A. & Ellis, M.K. 2005. Sports and the Deaf Child. American
Annals of the Deaf, Volume 150, 62
The Official Website of UK Deaf Sport. http://www.ukdeafsport.org.uk/dyncat.cfm?catid=27393#Deaf%20and%20Coping%20with%20whistles
Think Quest. http://library.thinkquest.org/5852/deafhoy.htm