DEAF ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

INTERNATIONAL ORIGIN

Deaflympics is among the four Independent International Sporting event (Olympics, Paralympics, Deaflympics and special Olympics) that is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Deaflympics was once known as the International Silent Games and was first held in Paris, France in 1924, with nine participating European Countries, instigated and spearheaded by the then president of the French Deaf Sports Federation, Monsieur Eugene Ruben S. Alcais who himself was a deaf, and with the help of a young deaf Belgian Athlete and Sports Administrator named Autoine Drosse, Eugene Rubens-Alcaise was able to stamp his vision of organizing the first ever physical-challenge tournament, in 1924.

Seeing the beauty and successes recorded at the 1924 Silent Games, deaf leaders gathered immediately after the Paris Games and established the International Committee of Silent Sports CLSS, but was later renamed “International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, ICSD”. Deaflympics like her other International Sports Event (Olympics, Paralympics, Deaflympics and special Olympics) is held every four (4) years interval and since its inception in 1924, Deaflympics has successfully held twenty-three (23) summer games and fifteen (15) winter games. And from its scarce participants of nine (9) European countries at its first games in 1924, the number of its membership has grown to one hundred and sixteen (116) countries. One unique feature of Deaflympics Federation is that, only deaf people are eligible to serve on the ICSD Board and Executive Bodies, so as to create a cohesive board amongst themselves. In the long run, Deaflympics has created a social environments for countries to deliberate about similarities and differences in the welfare of their deaf people, and as a result, many of the misconceptions about deaf people has been greatly reduced in many parts of society and around the world because of the huge impact Deaflympics Games have had on the general well being of deaf people in the world.

Bayelsa state Origin

The Bayelsa State Deaf Athletics Association was established in the year 2009 to be amongst the registered and recognize sports associations in the Bayelsa State Sports Council, and it first Coach was Mr. Ebiye Pupre and Mr. Fish Freedom was the Secretary.

The association first competition was in 2009 at the National Sports Festival in Kaduna State tagged “Kada Games” But due to inexperience no medals were won. Prior to the 2012 National Sports Festival tagged “Eko Games” in Lagos State there were changes in the administrative structure of the association with Coach Lucky Andrew taking over the reins of the Coaching crew of the Deaf Athletics Association while Mr. Kemelade Amienyain was the Secretary, but their outing at Eko Games was marred with near success syndrome as they did parasitically well but failed to win any medal as they finished fourth. As the build up to the Edo State National Sports Festival in 2020 games momentum a new Secretary was drafted to bolster the association in person of Mrs. Sandra Souerite Efebo, but their preparation could not produce the needed medals, as no medal was won. The 1^st Para Games that was held in Abuja in 2022 the team succeeded in grapping 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze medals with Mr. Tariye Jackson Bidei as the Association’s Secretary and Coach Lucky Andrew as Association’s Coach. In 2022, the Asaba National Sports Festival in Delta State saw the Team coming home with no medal, where Mr. Dimie Okara was the Association Secretary. In a bid to strengthen the Association a new Secretary has been drafted to the Deaf Athletics Association, in person of Opusam Ete with a view of strengthening the team for the forthcoming Para Games (2023), Youth Games (2023) and the National Sports Festival (2024), while Coach Lucky Andrew is still the Head Coach of the Association.

We believe that with the preparation and consistency of the athletes and the dutifulness of the Technical Crew of the Association, we are going to surpass our previous achievements in our future sports engagements, so as to bring glory and pride to the State Sports Council and Bayelsa State at Large, while also using the Deaf Athletics Association as a vehicle to discover hidden talents in and around our localities.

OUR PREVIOUS SPORTS OUTING

BAYESLA STATE DEAF ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION

Eko 2012

In Eko 2012 (Lagos) four athletes and three officials participated in four events and no medal was won, though Okubomieye Nemezigha placed fourth in the 800m race.

Edo 2020

In Edo 2020, eight athletes and three officials took part in five events and no medal won

National Para Games 2022

First National Para Games 2022 Abuja, we attended with nine athletes with three officials and won two silvers and three bronze medals
Deaflympics trials was attended with two athletes and two officials
6^th National Youth Games Ilorin, 2021 we attended with six athletes and three officials.

Asaba 2022

In Asaba 2022, we participated with eight athletes and three officials, we did not win any medal, but we had three athletes that ran the final and placed fourth in their events.

Deaf athletics association, from creation of the state 1996 had attended just three National Sports Festival, 1 Para games and a Championship and in the process, we have been able to record some successes, and more support from your administration will put us in a higher strata.