The 21st Century's Biggest Question About USA Deaflympians
Currently, the USOPC has yet recognized Deaflympics-!!!
This question could be:
"Should the Commission of the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics recommend Congress to amend the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to insert the Deaflympics alongside the Olympics and the Paralympics?”
Unlike the rebel Paralympians of the 1990s, we, the forgotten USA Deaflympians, still do not want to go through the federal court system to get full recognition from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC.)
But we are still dying to see Congress introduce this amendment! That is all!
CSUSOP Hearing on September 6
The Commission of the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics (CSUSOP) will conduct the sole public hearing in Washington, DC, tomorrow. Fourteen Commissioners will listen to Jeff Mansfield, President of the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). He will explain why parity with the USOPC could motivate future athletes who are deaf and hard of hearing. The C-SPAN will cover the hearing.
Century???
Yes, next year (2024) will be the 100th Anniversary of the Deaflympics. The first summer Games, known as the International Silent Games, were held on August 10-17, 1924, in Paris, France, equivalent to the Olympic-type event for athletes who were deaf and hard of hearing.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) website says, "The IOC recognized the ICSD (International Committee of the Sports for the Deaf) in 1955 and has granted patronage to the Deaflympics since 1985."
In 1988, the IOC recognized Special Olympics, Inc. (SOI) as promoting sporting activities for individuals with an intellectual disability.
The IOC website mentions, "On June 19, 2001, an agreement was signed between the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) aiming to secure and protect the organization of the Paralympic Games."
Could you do your math? ICSD in 1955, SOI in 1988, and IPC in 2001.
As a result, the USOPC must recognize the Deaflympics immediately!
USO[P]C Executive Director’s 1978 Promise
On March 29, 1978, Col. F. Don Miller, then USOC Executive Director, wrote to the Secretary-Treasurer of the AAAD (now USADSF), "If the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, S. 2727, is enacted, and a coordinated program of amateur sports is provided for the handicapped, and coordinated by the USOC, I would be prepared to recommend the use of Olympic terminology is association with your activities."
This act was enacted 45 years ago, but the current USOPC still needs to comply with the legendary USOPC figure's recommendation.
The 2003 Senate Hearing
On June 24, 2003, the Senate Committee of the Commerce, Science & Transportation had a hearing regarding the ongoing efforts to reform the USO[P]C. Chairman John McCain (AZ) asked Dr. Harvey W. Schiller, former USOC Executive Director, “Can you explain why the Paralympics should be part of the current USOC structure, and why the Deaflympics remain excluded?”
Dr. Schiller testified, “Recognizing that this is a continuing sensitive issue, it was our understanding that, based upon previous competitive opportunities, that the organization that represents the deaf athletes had adequate representation within the organization as it stands.” He paused, “The Paralympics itself is the organization that determines which disabled sports are part of it or not, and as you know, there are continuing arguments as to the technical requirements that could allow and have allowed in the past deaf athletes, the hearing impaired, to perform and compete in regular competition, and we didn’t see at this particular time any need to specifically identify that group.”
One of the USOPC’s Embarrassing Moments
As a member of the USO[P]C Handicapped in Sports Committee (1979-81), I finally visited the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, CO, in May 2021. My eyes popped out after reading the below incorrect blurb.
Look at the first sentence. Precisely, the USO[P]C was founded in 1894 by the authority of the International Olympic Committee. Then I blew the whistler on the Colorado Springs Gazette about my discovery. It ran the long article on the front page of the Sunday issue - On the trail of display errors at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum.
“The President’s Commission on Olympic Sports wasn’t mentioned, which to anyone familiar with the movement’s evolution in the U.S. was like a blurb about the Gettysburg Address leaving out Lincoln and the Civil War,” Gazette Reporter Stephanie Earls reported.
Why Deaf Representation on the U.S. Team is So Low
“We lack representation because so many people quit sports or never try it because of their fear and lack of accommodations,” responded Emily Wilson, 2022 Deaflympian and Silver Medalist in the 3000-meter steeplechase. “This is 100% the reason. It’s still baffling thinking about the lack of support available because of how many years the Deaflympics have been around. I also want to point out that almost every other country receives the same sponsoring that their Olympic teams do, the same uniforms, gear, and funding. I have no idea how or why the U.S. is behind on this. I’ve been doing a lot of research and talking to a lot of people and companies who also want to change this alongside with me.“
Last April, USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland e-replied me and encouraged me by saying, "I know the CSUSOP are well aware of the fragmentation and resource challenges that plague sport in our country and I'm hopeful they might find some ideas to help." I hope so -!!!
“The Deaflympics are more than just the Olympics for the Deaf. The purpose, history, and development of the Deaflympics established truth for anyone who mistakenly believed the Deaf were inferior in intellect or athleticism. Today, many Deaflympic athletes are able to show pride in their country and pride in being Deaf while displaying their amazing athleticism and skills,” wrote Jake Clark in 2016
