Opening Ceremony in Sondrio: 2019 Winter Deaflympics
ALEX: Now it’s time for the 2019 Winter Deaflympics Opening Ceremony. There will be a march with people from many different countries. There are many flags and teams. Some teams are small and some are big. The U.S. has a large group with 41 athletes, and some other countries also have large delegations. This is a nice small town named Sondrio. It is very Italian with narrow streets and stones on the pavement. The temperature is nice with crisp air. It snowed last night so there’s some snow around us. The athletes are really excited and there is great energy before the serious competition begins. Right now it’s all about the joy.
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Team USA Athlete: To see the Deaf community from all over the world come here and have an opportunity to meet one another, to be together in sports and life, is really inspiring.
Team USA Coordinator: It’s amazing and one of the best moments for a Deaflympian, to come here and meet people. You feel that national pride of representing your country.
Team USA Athlete/interpreter: This is bigger than just the United States.
USADSF President: Who is the person? Lauren Weibert!
ALEX: She was just selected as the U.S. flag-bearer! Lauren Weibert. What does it mean to you to hold the American flag?
LAUREN WEIBERT: It is a really cool opportunity and a great honor. I’m happy that I’ve represented the U.S. well.
ALEX: Congratulations!
WEIBERT: I’m still processing this!
SARAH: Where are you from?
Boy: Italy.
Girl: Where? Milan.
SARAH: It’s your first time coming here?
Girl: Yes. It’s interesting because I’ve never been to the Deaflympics. I’m like, wow. There are 34 countries!
Boy: I feel the same.
CALLIE: Where are you from?
Man: Kazakhstan.
CALLIE: Your clothes are based on your culture?
Man: Yes. Thank you.
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CALLIE: Where are you from?
Man: We’re from Mongolia.
CALLIE: Which sports?
Man: Chess.
CALLIE: Is it your first Deaflympics?
Man: Yes, my first time.
SARAH: She used to be in the Deaflympics.
Woman: Yes, in 1971. In Adelboden, Switzerland. I enjoyed it very much. Then the second time I was a volunteer in Salt Lake City, Utah -- in 2007. Now the third time I’m here as a fan. I prefer to compete or to volunteer, and it’s a different role now. I still enjoy watching.
SARAH: Which sport?
Woman: Skiing.
CALLIE: Where are you from?
Man #1: Brazil!
Man #2: Brazil!
Callie: Which sport?
Man #3: Alpine skiing.
Man #2: Chess.
Man #1: Alpine skiing.
CALLIE: Where are you from?
Man: We’re from Turkey. They will compete in alpine skiing. I’m in cross country skiing.
CALLIE: Is it your first Deaflympics?
Man: It’s their first, but I competed in Russia four years ago.
Callie: So it’s your second, but their first.
ALEX: There are 41 U.S. athletes, but only three females. Do you wish there were more females?
USADSF Executive Director: Absolutely. We must have more representation in the next Deaflympics. We did plan on sending 25 hockey players for the women’s hockey team. Canada had a team as well, but neither Europe nor Russia had a team. So it was dropped because you need at least three countries to be able to compete. The next Deaflympics, for curling and chess, it is my goal to recruit more women to represent us.
ALEX: So those out there should start practicing… now?
USADSF ED: Yes! Right now!
USA Team Member: I feel proud that I’m a part of the American team and able to prove myself that I can represent this country.
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ALEX: You can see that local Italians who live here are thrilled there’s this march in their town.
Man on stage: I’m announcing the opening of the 19th Winter Deaflympics!
ALEX: This is Mr. Kang Chen from Taiwan. Yesterday you were elected as the ICSD President. Congratulations!
Chen: Thank you!
ALEX: Is it an honor?
Chen: I’m very, very honored. It shows that the Congress has faith in my leadership that I’ve given for two years. Wow. I’m very inspired. It will also be tough work for us because we have two years left and there are many projects that are not finished. I can see many projects but the opportunities to finish them in two years… It will be tough. So we will try our best.
ALEX: Did the opening ceremonies give everything a good start to the Winter Deaflympics?
Chen: The IOC has a famous quote that says if the opening ceremony is a success, it means you’re 50% successful already. There’s only the other 50% left so success is for sure.
ALEX: Good luck going forward!
So, that’s the opening ceremony. There is an actual fire behind me that is a symbol of the Olympics spirit. The opening ceremony has started the upcoming nine days of sports. Six days of sports in 35 different events in four different areas. There was an excellent performance by Italian performers. There were many symbols, using fire, breaking through walls. This is to show that Deaf people are not hindered and that here is our opportunity to seize. The temperature at the beginning of the opening ceremony and the march was a bit cold, but the temperature has really dropped. It feels like 15 degrees down. There are many people breathing out steam. But the spirit is high everywhere. So this is the opening ceremony. The games are coming next. Keep on watching “The Daily Moth” and USADSF for the latest updates.