Irish Deaf Sports Association

17th September

Statement from President Laurence Coogan

It was enthralling to witness the extravagant of the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the 21st Deaflympics in Taipei. However Ireland's participation along with over 100 countries and over 4000 athletes did not match one expectation.

The football and Water polo teams' preparation was so intense it touched professionalism; a touch of luck of Ireland came short.

With the intensive competition that yielded a staggering 51 world's record and 94 Deaflympics records tells you what a level of competition were produced in Taipei.

Going back to the Opening and Closing ceremonies, it came close to compare with Beijing Olympics massive show, never witness in any previous Deaflympics, best summed up by Alan Turner veteran of 8 Deaflympics who described it "absolute the best ever show".

Our footballer worked like Bravehearts fast and skilful. We emerged top of our group that included holders Great Britain without conceding a goal. European champions France; one bogey team then knocked us out with the first goal we conceded in the quarter finals. With great sadness that our legend Stuart Foy had a bad football injury was sent home early to recover.

Intensive training for the Water Polo team made us look positive for medals; however a 9-12 defeat by Germany in the Bronze final ended a much sought result in Taipei. Our lads gave their very best against vastly experienced opponents.
Eoin Nolan gave Ireland a reprieve with a Silver and Bronze medal in the 100 and 200 swimming freestyle plus narrowing missing out in the 50m dash that he did just 2 hours after the Water Polo Bronze final. We are grateful to Eoin to bring home two medals.

In Athletics, Wayne Reid proved to be something special, after dropping out half way in the 10,000m, he put on a great fight to come home 5th then in less than 10 hours later he was up at 3am to travel to the Marathon venue for a 6am start of the 26 mile race. Under a scorching sun 35 degrees he battled home 10th an incredible effort. No coach would allow two big races 12 hours apart on any athlete, but Wayne wanted to and he proved real special to achieve that feat.

Our badminton squad found the opposition a very advanced level. We have much to do to reach the levels in badminton in future. We gave the two teenage girls a chance to compete in the Deaflympics and they did very well competing with top ranked players, the experiences they have come home with will no doubt be a bonus to their future career in badminton.

Lastly, I want say thank you all for your support and good wishes to the teams throughout the Deaflympics especially to the coaches, physio, our PR team and above all to the executive committee of the Irish Deaf Sports Association and to wish a speedy recovery to the great Stuart Foy who will forever be a legend for the 21 years service he gave to his country.

Laurence Coogan

IDSA President

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Closing Ceremony will go down in history as the best ever!

15th September 2009

The last event at the 21st Deaflympics took place today at the state of art stadium; Ukraine fans fluttering in a sea of blue and yellow jerseys and flags played amid of choruses of cheers as Ukraine defeated Russia 3-2 bringing home their gold medal.

The 21st Summer Deaflympics closed with great ending of the fierce 12 days competitions holding 94 Deaflympics record and 51 world records. Russia as the biggest winner took home 29 gold, 41 silver and 28 bronze.

With only 2 hours to prepare after the football final, a fantastic and unforgettable closing ceremony matched the opening ceremony success as the closing held an outdoor traditional Taiwanese sit-down banquet style on the Taipei stadium grounds where it was packed with 350 round tables serving distinctive Taiwanese 11 course delicacies, a special design never seen at any other Deaflympics closing ceremonies

The parade of dancing cheerleaders and more than 4000 athletes entered the stadium flying their national flags and flashing cameras from the audience were like shooting stars; many athletes from different countries took time to exchange their jerseys and chatted among old and new friends.

The ceremony kicked off with performance acts by the U-Theatre group and continued on with some cultural and visual impacts of thriving Lion dances and Taiwanese Traditional Opera. A movie showed the highlights of the Deaflympics athletes throughout the games. The entertainment finished at the Hong Kong pop idol Aaron Kwok which left our boys in green more than impressed.

The Fair Play Award is selected after each Deaflympics to encourage the best sportsmanship athlete in the Games. This year, the Award of US$5,000 went to the 24-year old Hungarian tennis player Gabor Mathe, the bronze medallist in the men's singles, who was nominated by the Technical Directors, selected by the ICSD President and Sport Director and finally approved by WIDEX representatives for his "Olympic spirit of fair competition"

The ICSD flag was lowered to denote the complete of the 2009 Deaflympics Games and the flag was handed over to the representative of the 2013 Athens Deaflympics.

"See you in Athens!" said Taipei Mayor Hau as he concluded his deepest appreciation to the committee of ISCD and volunteers in making the 2009 Taipei Deaflympics a success.

Donalda Kay Ammons, President of ICSD commented " Taipei has proved that it has excellent organizing skills which will be difficult to surpass for future host cities" she also said that the people of Taiwan should be proud of successfully hosting the event which is expected to earn the Deaf in Taiwan more respect from society.

"I am touched from the first time on arrival and overwhelmed by all the creativity and organisation the people of Taipei have done in the opening as well as the closing ceremony" says IDSA President Laurence Coogan
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A email from a local supporter:

I am an Irish businessman working on a long term assignment in Taiwan,
and have had the pleasure of meeting some of the Swimming/Water Polo
team at my hotel in Hsinchu, Taiwan….where the team has been staying
this past week......especially Alan Turner-what an absolute gentleman.

Seeing the team together this past week and competing made me very
proud to be Irish.
I got to see some of their games when I was free from my work and also
saw some of the swimming finals.
They represented Ireland impeccably and I also enjoyed it very much.
I wish them the very best success in the future and I will be
monitoring their progress for sure....

Slan leat,

John Wall.
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Congress News

5th Septmeber 2009

On the opening day of the 42nd ICSD Congress, Dr. Donalda Ammons announced that she was withdrawing her name from nomination for re-election as President. Citing that she believed the two remaining nominees for President could lead ICSD into the future, Ammons stated that she was looking forward to new adventures in her life.

Ammons has been involved in deaf sports for 35 years as an athlete, coach and leader. She served the AAAD/United States Deaf Sports Federation for 21 years and has been on the Board of ICSD for 14 years. Dr. Ammons' presidency will end at the conclusion of the 21st Deaflympics currently underway in Taipei, Taiwan, and after a short period of transition. Mr. Craig Crowley of Great Britain will succeed her.

The new President will take up his role after the Taipei Deaflympics have completed on 15 September.

Crowley founded UK Deaf Sport (UKDS) in 2003 and has led it ever since. He is a former Deaflympian, having represented Great Britain at football in the Games at Los Angeles in 1985.

Speaking immediately after his appointment, Crowley commented:

"It is an absolute pleasure to be elected President of ICDS. I am delighted that ICDS Congress has put their faith in me to pursue my campaign manifesto, which emphasised the need for greater co-operation with national and international sporting bodies.

"We are seeing here in Taipei that the Dealympics is increasingly becoming a major sporting event.

"My aim is to build a better future for Deaf sport through positive partnerships with all Deaf sports federations throughout the world as well as developing further diplomatic relations with IOC and IPC (International Paralympic Committee)".
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Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, extends his best wishes to members of the Irish Deaf Sports Association participating in the 2009 Deaflympics:

MESSAGE OF SUPPORT

I extend my best wishes to members of the Irish Deaf Sports Association who are representing Ireland in the 2009 Deaflympics. Now in their 21st year, thousands of athletes from 85 countries including Ireland, will participate in these prestigious games. Participation at any games requires a combination of skills, including aptitude, dedication, focus and hard work. I would like to wish the Irish team of 42 athletes, - who will compete in a range of sports including athletics, swimming, water polo, men's football and badminton, - your coaches, families and supporters from the Irish Deaf Sports Association, every success at the games. As you celebrate the spirit of Deaf Sports, you are also representing your country and continuing the proud tradition of Irish participation in high level international sporting competition.

Yours sincerely
Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism

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A MEMORABLE CEREMONY OFFICIALLY OPENS DEAFLYMPICS!
6th September 2009

On a clear night, untouched by a rainfall that many had feared, Taiwan formally opened tonight (Saturday local time 7.30pm) the Deaflympics in a jarring of sounds of cheers , visual effects of explosive fireworks and drama that thrilled the audience of 20,000 at the brand new Taipei stadium.

A countdown had been specially erected to kick off the event with fireworks and images from the past 20 Deaflympics interwoven with other images on the field as Taipei joins its place in history today.

President Ma Ying-jeou declared the Games open in Sign language, Mandarin and English following a 12-act extravaganza with 5000 performers including the raising of Taipei flag hoisting next to the International Olympic Committee 5 ring flag.

World-renowned hard of hearing percussionist, Glennie performed with drummers and 80 students of the Taipei and Taichung schools for the hard of hearing is one imaginative show revealing the Deaflympics logo only ending up in flames and had to be extinguished!

A favourable moment when a 50 metre long cloth was brought in to create a image of the ocean and a silent performance unfolding a butterfly calligraphy and the dance of water drops representing the pristine patches of sublime nature on the island of Taipei and other dancing performances including a signing dialogue of a boy and goddess legend story. Bodhisattva with 100 hands performed by a China group of 80 Deaf members symbolising the hands as Deaf language.

Paying tribute to the victims of recent Typhoon, the organisers invited four people who risked their lives to rescue 135 people in a symbolic sign of gratitude and prayed for the victims and a successful Deaflympics followed a comical celebration of Taipei specialties like mango ices and beef noodles.

The extravaganza climaxed when the athletes parade started excluding China due to political differences however will participate the games, France led the parade in recognition hosting the first ever Deaflympics in 1924. Our Irish Team waited anxiously for nearly 2 hours in the stadium common centre before being called out to follow behind India and Iceland showing off their green jerseys to the audience. Eoin Nolan had the honour to carry our national flag- he did our country proud!

Before the end of the evening the Deaflympics flame was brought in to the stadium by 8 distinguish athletes from previous Deaflympics and a giant traditional incense stick was used to light the scared flame then a drawing line of fireworks spread throughout the stadium and at landmarks Taipei Cultural Centre, Taipei 101 skyscraper - a splendour display in welcoming the Games.

The dazzling opening ceremony took two years to prepare at a cost of US$18.26 million and 40 broadcasting stations put it live shows around the world.
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More news can be found at the following sports pages:

Athletics - click here

Badminton - click here

Football - click here

Water Polo/Swimming - click here
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Greetings from Taipei, Taiwan!
1st September 2009

Finally we all have arrived here at the Grand Hotel. It is truly magnificent out here what with the continual greetings from the Deaflympics endorsed mascots and the Taiwanese people. The journey from Dublin to Taipei was rather eventful to say the least, making up a total of 21 long hours.

We all met up at Dublin airport around 6.30am and were dressed in our neat tracksuits with green polo shirt. The President and respective director of each sport wore a set of suit. The check-in process went smoothly and the first leg of flight was to Amsterdam. There we would change flights to get to Taipei via a stopover at Bangkok. In the flight from Amsterdam to Taipei, we were astonished to witness a series of films with the cabin crew signing. From this moment onwards we knew the Games will be a memorable one!

A significant moment occurred during the landing of the plane at Taipei. A set of oxygen masks were automatically released for use on Alan Turner’s and Darren Dunne’s seats much to their amusement! And no, they were not required!

Upon arrival at Taipei, we were escorted into three coaches waiting outside. We were then taken to the Taipei City Hall to get our ID badges. Little did we know the process of getting such ID took ages, having had to undergo various processes of verifying our names with passports and having our photographs taken by the organisers. It was then summed up by receiving a set of goodies each.

A total of six athletes were selected for hearing tests in which they have received the all clear and are now eligible to participate in the Games. The chosen athletes found the whole process very nerve wrecking but are now relieved to have got the green light. The coaches were at hand to take us to the Grand Hotel. By that time we were eager to have some food inside us and grab some sleep!

We have just checked in and are searching the premises round here. The corridors we are staying in are filled with athletes from other countries. We have recognised some familiar faces from previous Deaflympics and European/World Championships.

Two of the main concerns we have right now are the jetlag and humidity. Safe to say, the next few days will be crucial for us to try and adapt to the environment here before the opening ceremony on Saturday.

For latest news throughout the day, please follow us at www.twitter.com/irishdeafsports

Click here for photos Day 1
Click here for photos Day 2

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