Sam Ramsamy to attend 2017 Deaflympics

Mr Sam Ramsamy, long-standing IOC Member, Chair of the Sport and Active Society Commission and Delegate Member to Sport for Athletes with a Disability, has confirmed that he attends the ICSD Congress, the Opening Ceremony and some sporting events at 2017 Summer Deaflympics in Samsun beginning 17th of July 2017.

After receiving Ramsamy"s letter, ICSD President Rukhledev said: “I would like to express my heartfelt thank you to Mr. Sam Ramsamy for his support of the the Deaflympics, and I am very pleased that he has accepted my invitation to join us in Samsun. We will have to deliver a very special event event. We want to improve our sports so that soon they could be almost on the same level as those on the Olympic programme."

Dr Valery Rukhledev added that: “More experts from the IOC Sports Department will come as well and will support us with their observations on how individual sports perform, and on the Games as a whole. We are honored.”

Last year the IOC and the ICSD signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which underlined closer cooperation between the parties. As part of the MoU, the IOC have agreed to support the ICSD in achieving their aims of including deaf athletes and spectators in sport, organising activities and sports events along the Olympic Movement and sharing content on the IOC's Olympic Channel

Having signed the MoU, the ICSD reaffirmed their commitment to the Olympic Charter contributing to the Olympic Movement's goal of “building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport in accordance with Olympism in action and its values”.

The Summer Deaflympics 2017 takes place from the 18 to 30 July in Samsun, Turkey with 21 sports on the official program, 6,000 athletes and delegates. These games are planned to be hosted in 39 venues in total.

Everybody is welcome!