March 17, 2023
USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) is aware of an event currently being promoted called the “United States Deaflympic Centennial Celebrations Reunion.” At this time, this event is not affiliated with the USADSF.
We encourage our community to exercise discretion in making any plans relating to the event. USADSF is not responsible for any losses or damages incurred in relation to the event.
The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf is currently planning its own celebration. We believe that the centennial of the ICSD is a momentous occasion to celebrate Deaflympians and the Deaf sports movement, and we congratulate the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf and Deaflympians from around the world on this upcoming milestone.
Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic games, and Eugène Rubens-Alcais, who founded the first international competition of Deaf and Hard of Hearing athletes, shared a dream that sports could forge a more inclusive and peaceful world. The Deaflympics, first held in Paris in 1924 as the International Silent Games for the Deaf, is the second oldest Olympic-type competition in the world, next only to the Olympics, and for nearly a century, has been the premier sports competition for Deaf and Hard of Hearing athletes in the world.
Since 1935, approximately two thousand Deaf and Hard of Hearing athletes have represented the United States at the Deaflympics. We are proud of their accomplishments, which have totaled over one thousand medals. We encourage the Deaf sports community in the United States to follow the ICSD and USADSF for future announcements relating to official events and celebrations to mark the centennial.
USADSF is the highest governing body of deaf sports in the United States and a member of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). ICSD is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an International Federation with Olympic Standing and is the Governing body of Summer and Winter Deaflympics. For more information, please visit our website at www.usdeafsports.org or e-mail us at info@usdeafsports.org.