The 24th edition of the Summer Deaflympics, the biggest multi-sport event in the history of Rio Grande do Sul, will bring together more than 6,000 athletes from almost 100 different nations, in Caxias do Sul. Several work fronts in the city are involved in making the event a success.
The Organizing Committee estimates that around 1000 volunteers will be mobilized for the event, in addition to other contingents that will work in various areas. Most of these volunteers will come from the deaf community, which, in addition to facilitating communication with visitors, will also be involved in an event aimed at the deaflympic world. The experience in participating in a historic and international level event will be the high point for the volunteer, who will be able to follow competitions with high levels of athletes and infrastructure.
Andre da Silva, Workforce Coordinator of the 24th Deaflympics and responsible for the volunteers, explains that to register you must be at least 18 years old and meet certain requirements, such as availability of timetables, knowledge of sign languages or languages foreign: “Volunteers can be from any part of Brazil or the world, they just have to fulfill the requirements and want to participate. You will be very well received and you will certainly have the opportunity to experience an unforgettable experience in your life. It’s a global competition and the exchange is huge, millions of people in the world are deaf and sometimes we don’t have the dimension of what it means, it’s something edifying”.
One of the confirmed volunteers is Camila Lima Silva. She is an intern at the UCS Museum, and volunteered after receiving an email from the university encouraging the practice. “I speak English, and I was ready to help in whatever way possible. I believe that this act of volunteering in this great event will be good for both sides, a moment to exchange experiences, help and learn” , says Camila.
For the CEO of the Organizing Committee, Richard Ewald, no major sporting event is viable without the support of volunteers. “I have nearly 30 years of experience in sports, and in every event I’ve attended, whether competing or collaborating with the organization, I’ve seen the strength volunteers bring to make the experience better. So, it is essential that people consider participating and collaborating with the Deaflympics” .
About the Deaflympics
The Deaflympics is an international multi-sport event, organized by the International Committee on Sports for the Deaf (ICSD – International Committee of Sports for the Deaf). The first edition, held in Paris in 1924, was also the first sporting event for people with special needs.
The Summer Deaflympics takes place every 4 years and is the oldest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games. For the 24th Summer edition, it is expected to receive 6,500 people, including deaf athletes and technical commissions and teams from more than 90 countries.
As a historic landmark, Brazil will be the first country in Latin America to host the Summer Deaflympic Games, which will also be the largest multi-sport event ever held in Rio Grande do Sul.
Source: leouve
