The Deaflympics, also known as Deaflympiad are a periodic series of multi-sport events sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at which deaf athletes compete at an elite level. Unlike the athletes in other IOC-sanctioned events, athletes cannot be guided by sounds. The games have been organized by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds since the first event in 1924.
The 2009 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 21st Summer Deaflympics was an international multi-sport event from 5 to 15 September 2009 in Taipei, Taiwan. It was the third Summer Deaflympics to be held in the Asia-Pacific region. Judo, karate, and taekwondo have been recognized as new summer disciplines in the Deaflympics sports competition program.
The 2013 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 22nd Summer Deaflympics, was an international multi-sport event that took place in Sofia, Bulgaria from July 26 to August 4, 2013. The marathon had been held before in Füssen, Germany on 21 July.
Sofia was hosting the biggest sports event for deaf athletes for a second time. In the past the Bulgarian capital hosted the 1993 Summer Deaflympics, thus becoming only the second city, together with Copenhagen, which has hosted two Summer Deaflympics.
The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf is the apex body organizing international sports events for the deaf, particularly the Deaflympics. It is also called the Comité International des Sports des Sourds (CISS). The organization was founded in Paris by Eugène Rubens-Alcais, who organized the first "International Silent Games" in 1924. Alcais was himself deaf and was the president of the French Deaf Sports Federation.
The 2017 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 23rd Summer Deaflympics, is an international multi-sport event that took place in Samsun, Turkey from July 18 to July 30, 2017. 3,148 athletes from 97 countries competed in 18 sports with 21 disciplines. 86 records were broken with 54 being world records and 32 being Deaflympics records.
Russia participated at the Deaflympics after making its debut in 1993, until it was banned in 2022. Russia is just behind United States for winning the most medals in Deaflympics history. In the 2017 Summer Deaflympics held in Turkey, Russia was the medal topper with a record haul of 199 medals. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) banned athletes from Russia from that year's Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
Matthew James Klotz is an American male deaf swimmer and reality television contestant. He has represented the United States at the Deaflympics and in other international events including the Deaf World Championships. He is a world record holder in swimming for deaf and is considered one of the finest deaf swimmers to represent USA after the retirements of Marcus Titus and Reed Gershwind. He made his Deaflympic debut at the 2013 Summer Deaflympics.
Brazil as the host nation of the 2021 Summer Deaflympics is currently competing in the event fielding 159 athletes. This was the 8th consecutive time that Brazil was eligible to participate at the Summer Deaflympics since making its debut in Sofia 1993.
Wrestling at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics was held in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil from 10 to 14 May 2022.
Football at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics were held in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil from 30 April to 15 May 2022.
Handball at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics will held in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil from 2 to 14 May 2022.
Volleyball at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics was held in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil from 3 to 13 May 2022.
Basketball at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics was held in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil from 30 April to 13 May 2022.
Badminton at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics was held in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil from 2 to 11 May 2022.
Tennis at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics was held in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil from 3 to 12 May 2022.
Golf at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics in Caxias Do Sul was held at the Ginásio Poliesportivo da UCS and SESI-SENAT Club in Caxias Do Sul from 7 to 11 May 2022.
Mehrdad Seidi is an Iranian deaf judoka. He has represented Iran at the Deaflympics on three occasions in 2013, 2017 and 2021.
Ryutaro Ibara is a Japanese deaf swimmer. He is regarded as one of the most decorated Deaflympic athletes from Japan with a medal tally of 19 at the Deaflympics.
Nasibeh Shahbazi also spelt as Noseybeh Shahbazi is an Iranian deaf taekwondo practitioner. She has represented Iran at the Deaflympics on two occasions in 2017 and 2022.
The 2023 Winter Deaflympics, officially known as the 20th Winter Deaflympics or XX Winter Deaflympics, was the 20th edition of the Winter Deaflympics, and took place between 2–12 March 2024 in Erzurum in Turkey.
