Except You-!
Yesterday, I asked ChatGPT to generate an image based on my 2025 commentary for the Colorado Springs Gazette, titled "USOPC’s DE&I contains at least one exclusion."
Three minutes later, it finished drawing. It came out with 100% accuracy.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes are excluded from funding and official recognition by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
This exclusion stems from historical and structural differences in how American sports programs are governed and funded:
Historical Funding & The Amateur Sports Act
Past Support (1978–1998): Under the initial Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the former United States Olympic Committee (USOC) actively supported the American Athletic Association of the Deaf (AAAD), now the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). This support included access to training facilities and financial development grants.
The 1998 Pivot: The passage of the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 1998 formally integrated the Paralympic Division into the USOPC structure via a legislative rider. However, the act omitted any mention of the World Games for the Deaf (renamed the Deaflympics in 2001), thereby completely cutting off direct USOPC funding for deaf programs.
Meanwhile, the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has not yet begun considering Recommendation #8 from the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics, issued on March 1, 2024 (two years ago).
Below is a portion of page 5 of Volume 1, Issue 2 of the “USOC Disabled Sports News,” from October-December 1995.
This image shows that, without SOI, the AAAD was the largest disability group at 41%.
Unlike many National Olympic Committees, the USOPC does not formally recognize the Deaflympics. This lack of formal recognition prevents the USADSF from using the trademarked term “Deaflympics” in certain commercial sponsorships.
However, the USOPC was forced to establish the U.S. Paralympic Division in 2001 and later ceased supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes. No further development funds for deaf athletes were provided after March 2003.
No “EQUITY is EQUITY”
Howard “Howie” Gorrell has attended 14 of the last 15 Deaflympics since 1969. He received the USADSF Jerald M. Jordan Award in 2004, presented to individuals who demonstrate leadership and sustained participation toward the goals of the Deaflympics. He also received the 2011 Art Kruger Award for demonstrating leadership, sustained participation, support, and contributions to the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) over an extended period.