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35,000 sign up for Deaflympic Games
By Shaun Phillips - Herald-Sun
6 Jan 2004
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On their marks: Athletes Joanne Lambert, Sam Quinn and Cindy Lu Fitzpatrick get into the spirit of the games.
Picture: David Caird |
THE world's second-oldest multi-sport event is coming to Victoria – and it's not the Commonwealth Games in 2006.
The 20th Deaflympic Games will be held in Melbourne and Ballarat over 12 days from January 5 next year.
Organisers say the Deaflympics could attract 35,000 people, including competitors, officials and supporters. About 1200 volunteers will be required, with training in basic sign language to be provided.
Australia will field a team of 170 next year.
Distance runner Joanne Lambert has won three gold medals and one silver from four Deaflympics. The 37-year-old Geelong runner is considering the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon. Basketballer Sam Quinn will be competing at his third Deaflympics. "Having all the green-and-gold faces in Melbourne, it will be awesome," said Quinn, 26, who plays with Bulleen in the Victorian Basketball League. Dual Commonwealth Games swimmer Cindy Lu Fitzpatrick, who won 19 gold medals at six Deaflympics between 1977 and 1997, will act as patron.
The Deaflympics will attract 3500 athletes, about 1000 fewer than the Commonwealth Games, but wins on the country count – 83 to 72. The events run for the same number of days and have a similar number of sports. Similarities disappear when it comes to budget. Deaflympics organisers have $10 million to play with compared with a total budget of $1 billion for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The Federal and State Governments have each contributed $4 million to the Deaflympics, leaving organisers to raise $2 million.
The Deaflympics, formerly the World Deaf Games, were first held in 1924. Athletes with no hearing below 55 decibels qualify. Hearing aids are removed for competition. Sports are not modified, except to replace auditory commands with visual signals. A green light signals the startof a race for swimmers and runners.
The opening and closing ceremonies and athletics will be held at Olympic Park. The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre will host badminton, basketball, handball, swimming, table tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. Ballarat will host cycling and orienteering and some basketball, soccer and volleyball matches. More information can be found at www.deaflympics.com
About one in 10 Australians suffers some degree of hearing loss, and one in three aged 65-plus.
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