President's e-Message

It has been a blur of time! The Christmas/New Year came and went.

In few weeks, we will be in a lovely city of Sundsvall, first for the Workshop and the 38th Congress of the CISS and then for the opening of the 15th Deaflympic Winter Games.

Unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee President Dr. Jacques Rogge will not be able to come and open the Games, and we are waiting to hear from the Sport Director, Mr. Gilbert Felli if he would be with us all on that very special occasion.

The 38th Congress will have a full agenda and one of the issues up for discussion at the Congress would be the site for the 16th Deaflympic Winter Games -2007. At this time of writing, we have not received a formal bid to host the 2007 Deaflympic Winter games, which is of great concern to us all. In addition, the delegates will determine which two cities, Athens GRE or Taipei TPE will succeed in the bid to host the 21st Deaflympic Summer Games in 2009.

As well, there are number of proposals to update, the Constitution, Deaflympic Games regulations and Deaf World Games regulations. The delegates will be in for two very busy days on 27th and 28th of February.

On the 1st of March, the 15th Winter Deaflympics will be officially opened and followed by a social event to celebrate 90th anniversary of the Swedish Deaf Sports Federation. This event is by invitation only, but I am sure you all want to join me in extending our heartiest congratulations to members of the Swedish Deaf Sports Federation on its wonderful achievements recorded over the last 90 years.

Just before the end of last year, CISS Secretariat sent out to all National Association of Deaf Sports, a set of letters from both International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee, acknowledging autonomy and independence of the CISS and its National members in managing sports for their Deaf people at both international and national levels. These letters also asked their respective National members to respect and support desires of CISS and its Members to maintain their autonomy and independence. It will definitely go a very long way toward strengthening cases for all National Deaf Sports Associations in controlling and managing sporting destiny of their members.

Finally, on behalf of the CISS Executive, I wish you all a very healthy and successful year of 2003, and we look forward to seeing you in Sundsvall very soon!

By John Lovett