Taiwan Today

The 2009 Summer Deaflympics put and deaf athletes in the spotlight, showcasing their intrepid spirit in meeting the challenges of competition.

Chao Yu-ping, secretary-general of the Chinese Taipei Sports Association of the Deaf (CTSAD), will never forget the moment that made he and other delegates--including Chi Cheng, 's 1968 Olympic bronze medalist and honorary president of the Chinese Taipei Track and Field Association--burst into tears of joy. It was the afternoon of February 28, when the 38th Congress of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) declared Chinese Taipei as the host for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics after beating out rival by a vote of 52 to 32.

The Chinese Taipei delegation was exhilarated when was awarded the right to host an Olympic-level international competition. Most significant of all, the winning bid ensured that the Deaflympics would take place in for the first time since the games debuted as the International Silent Games in 1924, the first international sporting event for athletes with a disability. The Deaflympics are scheduled to run in from September 5 to September 15.

The Deaflympics, also previously known as the World Games for the Deaf, fall under the auspices of the ICSD. Organized once every four years, the Deaflympics, together with the Olympics, Paralympics and Special Olympics, are the four sports events sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.

Chao was the main promoter behind 's bid for the right to host the Deaflympics. The successful accomplishment of winning the bid was built upon an earlier effort in 2000, when the CTSAD served as host for the sixth Asia Pacific Games for the Deaf in , which attracted the participation of nearly 1,000 athletes from 23 countries and received very positive feedback. Thus encouraged, the CTSAD, which gained admission into the ICSD in 1991, decided to bid for the right to hold the 2009 Summer Deaflympics.

The CTSAD's bid application to the ICSD in August 2002 included endorsement letters from the Sports Affairs Council (SAC), the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and the Taipei City Government. Following the submission of the bid, then ICSD President John Lovett made a fact-finding tour to to examine relevant venues and facilities. In a series of meetings arranged by the CTSAD, Lovett met with high-ranking government officials including then President Chen Shui-bian, then SAC Minister Lin Te-fu and then Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien. Lovett reported being impressed by the full support and commitment of the Chinese Taipei bidders to host the international sports event.

After Lovett's fact-finding tour, the Chinese Taipei delegation, composed of 13 members from the CTSAD, Taipei City Government and the Taipei Mission in , arrived for the ICSD congress in on February 25, 2003 with 500 kilograms of promotional materials and souvenirs. Upon their arrival at the venue, the delegation set up an exhibition booth that featured Taiwanese culture, visited ICSD officials and delegates of member countries and organized a dinner party for them.

At a press conference in February 2008, Taipei City
Mayor Hau Lung-bin, center in white jacket, called
on the public to support the Deaflympics by attending
the games and learning basic sign language. (Courtesy
of Taipei Organizing Committee of the 21st Summer
Deaflympics)

At the dinner, Chao's team made a lively multimedia presentation and gave away souvenir packs that included promotional brochures, tourist information about , illustrations on the type of sign language used in , mascots and T-shirts to participants. And on February 28, 2003, after the representative from made an oral briefing that was translated by an interpreter into sign language, Chao, who is hearing-impaired, made his presentation directly in sign language. These efforts won a favorable response from delegates and helped to secure the right to host the games.

"It was difficult for to compete with , the host city for the 2004 Summer Olympics, in terms of sporting facilities," Chao admits. "Still, we were confident in our service ability and competence at event planning." Chao adds that the CTSAD has helped organize several large-scale sporting events since its establishment in 1997, giving the organization plenty of experience to draw upon for the games. Moreover, government agencies on the island have assisted the CTSAD in hosting events by providing funding and manpower to complete preparatory tasks, including upgrading facilities, training athletes and volunteers and running publicity campaigns.

Thousands Expected

Emile Sheng, chief executive officer of the Taipei Organizing Committee of the 21st Summer Deaflympics, says that compared with the games held in Melbourne, Australia in 2005, which attracted 2,045 athletes from 63 countries, the number of participants at the 2009 Taipei Deaflympics is expected to nearly double, an indicator that Taiwan's preparations and publicity drive have gained widespread notice. The result is that an estimated 4,000 athletes from some 80 countries will compete at the Taipei Deaflympics in 20 sporting categories including track and field, badminton, basketball, bowling, cycling, football, karate, judo, shooting, swimming and taekwondo. Plus, delegates from 101 member countries of the ICSD will arrive in for an annual conference a few days before the games kick off.

Taipei Stadium, equipped with a 400-meter track and
field facility and 20,000 seats for spectators, is the
main venue for the Taipei Deaflympics, which run from
September 5 to September 15. (Courtesy of Taipei Organizing
Committee of the 21st Summer Deaflympics)

"We've been doing our utmost to organize this event as Taipei not only represents Taiwan but also Asia, given that many American and European deaf athletes have not been to Asia and their visit to Taiwan will become their first impression of the continent," Sheng says. "On another front, it's our hope that the international community will learn more about via this event."

The games, Sheng says, will be mainly staged at the sports complex that includes Taipei Stadium, Taipei Arena and in downtown . In particular, the newly built, NT$3 billion (US$90 million) Taipei Stadium is equipped with a 400-meter track and field facility and a 300-meter warm-up area. The stadium has a seating capacity of 20,000 and its design and equipment have been certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations--the world governing body for track and field--and by FIFA, the Federation Internationale de Football Association.

In addition to the event's opening and closing ceremonies, the stadium will host the track and field and soccer competitions. Other selected sports venues in , Taoyuan and Hsinchu counties of northern have all been upgraded or renovated to meet international standards.

Sheng adds that hosting major sports events often leaves a legacy that is a boon to the host city and its people, with one of the main benefits being improvements in the city's infrastructure. Taipei Stadium, with its state-of-the-art facilities and innovative design, for instance, will be used by both disabled and non-disabled athletes for sports events as well as aid in 's bids for international games in the years to come.

Additionally, Sheng's committee has turned to domestic manufacturers to develop a sophisticated system that uses red, yellow and green lights to signal the start of races, as well as display screens to provide updates on the competition. It has also brought in a system from the that allows hearing-impaired individuals to communicate with their hearing family and friends via a video and telephone system. Through the system, the hearing impaired person can communicate in sign language with an interpreter at a call center, who then speaks to the person on the other end of the line. Sheng adds that 's deaf community will be able to continue using the 24-hour telecommunication service after the games end.

8,600 Volunteers

Apart from the application of high-tech electronics and telecom devices, the primary means of communication for the hearing-impaired is sign language. Sheng says his committee initially planned to recruit 4,000 volunteers to help with reception, guidance and other imperative assignments during the games. The response has been extraordinary, with around 8,600 volunteers signing up. Most of those donating their time are students and have received training in sign language skills ranging from basic to advanced levels at National Taipei University of Education and Taipei Municipal University of Education to help meet the expected demand.

"With about two volunteers for every deaf athlete, I think we can offer good services to make these athletes feel at ease and moreover experience the friendliness and enthusiasm of Taiwanese people," Sheng adds. "And for the volunteers, such international exchanges offer a good, rewarding experience."

To present spectacular opening and closing ceremonies that can attract international attention, prestigious theater director Stan Lai was signed on to be the artistic director for the Taipei Deaflympics, along with the celebrated television producers Wang Wei-chung and Chang Hsiao-yen, who have acted as creative consultants.

The opening ceremony, Sheng says, has been designed to tell 's story in the areas of the arts, culture and religion through performances combining dance, drama and music. Some 5,000 performers, including many hearing-impaired people, as well as around 2,000 members of the armed forces, will play a part in the opening and closing ceremonies, he adds.

"One aim of hosting the Deaflympics is to let hearing people around the world realize the effort the deaf have to make to succeed and thus pay more attention to their needs," Sheng says. "Also, we hope to invite the deaf athletes to participate in social activities so that hearing people can learn from their determination, as they never give up when faced with obstacles."

SAC Minister Dana Tai says it has not been easy for to win bids to host international multi-sport events such as the recent World Games held in July in , southern and the Deaflympics in in September, given 's diplomatic status. However, she expects that landing the two events will cement 's reputation for capably hosting major events, as well as boost 's international image and visibility.

Earlier this year, the SAC increased the reward for any Taiwanese athlete winning a gold medal at all future Deafylmpics from the previous award of NT$750,000 (US$22,730) to NT$900,000 (US$27,270). In addition, as this year's event will be held in Taiwan, the new policy will multiply the prize money for gold medal winners by 1.5 times, with the result that Taiwanese gold medalists at the Taipei Deaflympics will receive a cash award of NT$1.35 million (US$41,000). Gold medalists will also be offered coaching positions at schools for the physically challenged. The council also offers a monthly subsidy of NT$12,000 (US$364) to domestic athletes who quit their jobs to concentrate on preparing for the games.

Tai, formerly a track and field athlete who represented at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, says she fully understands the hardship of pursuing a sports career, particularly for mentally or physically challenged people. Hence, under the principle of fairness, she has been striving to maximize benefits for athletes with disabilities.

Chao Yu-ping of the CTSAD expresses gratitude for the SAC's strong support all the way from backing his association's bid for the right to host the Deaflympics to the various training schemes that have been in place for deaf athletes since 2004.

At the 2005 Melbourne Deaflympics, 's 45-member team won a record 16 medals--nine golds, four silvers and three bronzes--earning fifth place in the overall medal standing behind , , and the . The Taiwanese delegation competing at the games has expanded to 159 athletes mentored by 35 coaches. "Given that is the host country for the 2009 event, we've made a great effort to cultivate as many talented athletes as we can by providing them with the best coaches and practice venues. Our aim is to outperform our achievements at the 2005 games," Chao says. He cites bowling, taekwondo, karate, swimming and table tennis as the most promising sports for to win medals in at the event.

Chang Yao-chien, who was a member of the Taiwanese women's bowling team that won gold medals at the 2005 Melbourne Deaflympics, says participation in international athletic competition has broadened her worldview and increased her self-confidence. She is thankful for the professional training with regard to the technical, physical and psychological coaching that she has obtained through the CTSAD. "Every athlete has an Olympic dream of stepping onto the stage and receiving the laurel wreath of victory," she says. "With great ambition and relentless efforts, I will do my best at the Taipei Deaflympics and hope everyone can cheer for me."

Likewise, Lin Wen-fang, a karate athlete, says the specific goal that she has set for herself--winning gold at the 2009 Deaflympics--has been the force driving her forward despite the numerous difficulties she has encountered. Oftentimes, Lin says, she has found herself torn between the demands of earning a living and training for athletic competition. She normally has to rush to the training venue after work and then practice karate from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on a daily basis.

Strong Will

Lin's coach, Chuang Yu-hao, credits Lin for her strong will to win in competition. "The time that I've spent in training athletes with hearing impairments is more than double compared with those who can hear. Similarly, compared to their hearing counterparts, the hearing-impaired athletes have to double their efforts to improve their skills and perform well," Chuang says. "My ideal of helping to develop athletic talent in the hearing-impaired is to focus on their strong qualities like discipline, fortitude and determination not to yield. In turn, this causes those who can hear to trust them with important positions at work."

Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin has vowed to make the Deaflympics a success and calls on all residents to support the event and let the world know about the city's passion, friendliness and care for minorities. He has also encouraged residents to learn the simple sign language for "I'm with you," "do your best" and "I support you" when hearing-impaired athletes from all over the world arrive en masse this month.

Meanwhile, the Taipei City Government has launched a series of promotional activities including exhibitions, parades and performing arts of different kinds in addition to inviting former NBA superstar forward Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls as well as Taiwanese pop diva A-mei to act as the spokespersons for the Taipei Deaflympics.

Chao Yu-ping of the CTSAD says the significance of organizing the Deaflympics is to manifest deaf culture, an asset that has been passed down from generation to generation and a force that motivates hearing-impaired people to rise to the challenge. "In the Deaflympics world, the leading actors are the hearing-impaired and only the hearing-impaired. Simultaneously, the Deaflympics is the only stage for the deaf to showcase their athletic skills; it gives them a chance to enjoy a sense of achievement," Chao says. "All in all, the ultimate goal is to promote the core value of the Deaflympics--equality through sports."

Write to Kelly Her at kelly@mail.gio.gov.tw