 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
1) Hearing Loss and Sports Internationally speaking, the Olympic Games are ranked the highest among sporting events. To play in the Olympic Games is therefore the ultimate goal for all athletes. The big family of the Olympic Games consists of five members: Deaflympics, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Special Olympics and Youth Olympic Games. It was an honor that Taipei, capital of Taiwan, was given the opportunity to host the 21st Deaflympics, which is the most prestigious sporting event ever held in Taiwan, as well as the first time that an Asian country won the bid to host the Deaflympics. As the host country, the deaf athletes of Taiwan competed in the following sports categories: track and field, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cycling, karate, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and judo. The basic requirements set by the Deaflympics committees are that the player’s hearing loss in their better ear (the ear that could hear better) should be at least 55 dB and that they should not wear any hearing aids or cochlear implants during the games so that the competing environment is fair, and that all the players strive for the highest honor in silence.
The biggest challenge for people with hearing loss to participate in sports is communication. It is especially true for deaf athletes. For example: the players on the basketball court could only "keep their eyes open" but unable to use their ears to understand the tactical situation, nor to build good rapport between the team members through sounds. The hardships that the deaf players have to endure in this process are unconceivable for normal people. Study shows if the hearing-impaired persons could go out and be engaged in suitable sports, their physical coordination and strength will be improved. It will also enhance their communication and interaction with other people. Their competitiveness in the society will be increased, and even facilitates the ability for hearing-impaired students to live and work independently. The benefits of sports for the deaf are so evident that organizations such as Taipei School for the Hearing Impaired, Association of the Deaf, and government bodies have been actively promoting the concept, and providing appropriate sporting environment for the hearing-impaired.
Reference:
2) Sporting Events of the Deaf Women's Basketball Team The Deaf Women's Basketball Team participated in important sporting events such as the 2009 Deaflympics, 2014 DIBF (Deaf International Basketball Federation) Asia Pacific Cup, and 2015 World Deaf Basketball Championships. The players have never used hearing loss as an excuse. Instead, they hold themselves to strict self-discipline and never complained during the trainings even when these trainings are as intense as those for the normal athletes. They are willing to go through the devilish training for the goal of bringing glory to the country and achieving their dreams. They will further take on the challenges to compete in the 2016 DIBF Asia Pacific Cup in Japan and 2017 Turkey Deaflympics.
Reference:
Taiwan Deaf Women's Basketball Team has dazzled the world many times in international sporting events and is currently ranked as the best team in Asia. They will continue to compete in the 2016 DIBF Asia Pacific Cup in Japan. Their goal is to win the championship for a second time with their strength and improve Taiwan’s image and influence in deaf sports. The ultimate goal of the deaf players is to participate in the Deaflympics. In 2017, they will compete in the Turkey Deaflympics as Taiwan’s national team! We wish Taiwan Deaf Women's Basketball Team success in the 2017 Turkey Deaflympics and that it remains No.1 in Asia. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|