| Every four years, the world becomes caught up in the | | | | What arena do elite deaf athletes have for |
| Olympics. During that short span of days, people who | | | | international competition? In 1924, what is now called |
| might never ordinarily watch swimming, skiing, tennis or | | | | the Deaflympics were instituted under the name of the |
| a pantheon of other sports, sit entranced and watch | | | | International Games for the Deaf. They were the first |
| them, just because it's the Olympics. The drama, the | | | | games held for a group with a disability. The |
| medals, the emotions - it's almost addictive. "The thrill of | | | | Deaflympics are fully sanctioned by the International |
| victory, the agony of defeat," indeed. | | | | Olympic Committee. |
| For athletes with challenges that prevent their | | | | Like the Olympics, the Deaflympics are held in a |
| participation in the Olympics, there are the Paralympics | | | | different host city every four years. Since 1949 there |
| or the Special Olympics. In the Paralympics, spectators | | | | have been both summer games and winter games as |
| can see athletes with physical challenges who may | | | | well. There are some notable differences, however, in |
| compete in wheelchairs or with the assistance of | | | | how athletes qualify for these games and in how the |
| other physical adaptations. Athletes with mental | | | | games are run. |
| challenges can also experience the thrill of competition | | | | In order the qualify for the Deaflympics, an athlete |
| in the Special Olympics. | | | | must have a hearing loss of 55 decibels or more in the |
| But where do deaf athletes fit in? Their deafness | | | | "better ear," and must submit an audiogram, or a chart |
| does not, in itself, prevent athletic participation. | | | | showing his hearing loss, to prove it. An audiogram |
| Deafness does not cause a person to run more | | | | showing borderline hearing loss comes under special |
| slowly, swing a racket less skillfully, or make a poor | | | | review before the athlete is accepted into the games. |
| turn at the end of a pool lane. Why do we not see | | | | Athletes are forbidden to use hearing aids or cochlear |
| deaf athletes competing alongside Kerri Walsh and | | | | implants during the games. Instead of starter pistols, |
| Michael Phelps? | | | | track events begin with a light flash; football referees |
| There are two reasons. The first is that a deaf athlete | | | | wave a flag instead of blowing a whistle. In addition, |
| would be at a disadvantage in competition because he | | | | unlike the Paralympics and the Special Olympics which |
| or she could not hear the start pistol, whistles, bells, or | | | | are run primarily by non-disabled people, the |
| other auditory signals. This could cause the athlete to | | | | Deaflympics are run by deaf people for deaf athletes. |
| start with a small delay. As was made clear with one | | | | Hundreds of athletes participate in the winter games |
| of Michael Phelps' wins, the smallest fraction of a | | | | and thousands compete in the summer games. |
| second can make the difference between a gold | | | | Athletes and officials come from all over the world. |
| medal and a silver medal. The second reason is that a | | | | These games offer a unique opportunity for interaction |
| deaf athlete could not experience the feeling of | | | | between deaf athletes who were educated in |
| "inclusion" because he or she could not engage in | | | | traditional schools solely for the deaf and those who |
| spontaneous interaction with his or her hearing peers. | | | | came from a mainstreamed school environment, |
| There would always be a separation between the | | | | where they studied alongside hearing classmates. |
| deaf athlete and the hearing athletes. Spectators are | | | | There is heavy media coverage for the Deaflympics, |
| interested in the sports, but the participants also take | | | | and these events attract global attention. The |
| away with them wonderful memories of the fun of | | | | Deaflympics will continue to grow as an independent |
| meeting and interacting with other athletes. Much of | | | | event due to the special communication requirements |
| this experience would be denied to deaf athletes | | | | of the deaf. |
| simply as a result of their deafness. | | | | |