Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Keith McCord Reporting The Olympics are coming back to Utah! Hearing-impaired athletes from 25 nations will be here next month for the 16th annual "Deaflympics".
These events aren't as large as the other Olympic competitions that we are familiar with but the enthusiasm is just as great!
The Deaflympics is sanctioned by the IOC...and they've been around a while--since 1924!
Dwight Benedict, Chairman, 2007 Deaflympics: "We have five sports: we have skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ice hockey and curling."
Between February 1st and the 10th, the Olympic Spirit will once again be alive in Utah. More than 350 athletes from all over the world will be here to compete in the 16th Winter Deaflympics.
Dwight Benedict: "To actually qualify to compete in the Deaflympics, you must have a hearing loss of 55 decibels or more in one ear or more."
Games for the hearing impaired are held every four years, just like other Olympic competitions. During the previous winter Deaflympics in Sweden in 2003, there were about 25-hundred fans. More are expected to come and watch the games here!
Dwight Benedict: "We'll have 3,000 to 5,000 fans. I'm shooting for 5,000, but conservatively, 3,000."
Dwight Benedict, Chairman of the 2007 Games, told us through interpreter Barry Utley with Sorenson Communications, that Utah is the first place to host all three IOC sanctioned Olympic Games.
The appearance of the games are what you'd expect--an Opening and Closing Ceremony; medals presentations each night. The venues include Park City Mountain Resort, Soldier Hollow, and the Steiner Ice Arena.
The 2007 Winter Deaflympics is operating on a budget of about 1.4-million dollars.
Dwight Benedict: "We've been very close with our budget, and we're trying to stay within our limitations there, but we can always use more. As for volunteers, we've actually had to turn people away. We've had such an outpouring of support from around the world, not only locals."
Again, Opening Ceremonies will take place at the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah February 3rd at 7pm.
If you're interested in tickets to the events, or what to donate or become a sponsor, click on the link located at the right.
