Deaflympics Lesson - Videoconference to Learn About 2015 Deaflympics

On 17 December 2014, the International News Agency "Russia Today", Moscow at 13:00 (1:00 pm), held a videoconference in conjunction with two other cities: Khanty-Mansiysk and Magnitogorsk. The videoconference focused on the upcoming 2015 Winter Deaflympics that will take place from 28 March to 5 April in Khanty-Mansiysk and Magnitogorsk. With only less than 100 days left until the 18th Winter Deaflympics, majority of schools and universities in Russia participated in the videoconference to learn about Deaflympics. Volunteers and students learned about Deaflympics’ history, sports programs and the achievements of Deaf folks in Russia but more specifically of the upcoming Winter Games and 2015 Deaflympics’ mascots. Volunteers will host a workshop to learn sign language, how to find "common ground" with the hard of hearing people, and also practicing with participants in signing the songs in sign language. In regards to Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Ugra participants, more than 50,000 high school students and 500 students in Universities participated in the Deaflympics’ workshop. The 18th Winter Deaflympics will be held from 28 March to 5 April with five different sports and 33 (thirty-three) sets of medals will be awarded. The competitive event includes snowboarding, cross country skiing, curling, ice hockey and alpine skiing (slalom discipline) and will be held at the sports facilities of the Khanty-Mansiysk. To date, 449 deaf athletes from 27 countries registered for the 18th Winter Deaflympics.

Photos by Oxana Smidovich