The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) is celebrating its 100th anniversary, marking a century of contributions to deaf sports. On August 10, 1924, the first Deaflympics, originally called the International Silent Games, took place at Pershing Stadium in Paris, France, with 148 athletes. This event began international deaf sports, bringing together over 2,500 athletes worldwide.
The Deaflympics is recognized as the second longest-running multi-sport event, following the Olympics, and is the first international disability sports event. The ICSD has been instrumental in promoting and developing sports for deaf athletes, organizing the Deaflympics, and advocating for their rights and recognition.
As the ICSD celebrates this milestone, it honors the pioneers who established deaf sports and expresses gratitude to the athletes, officials, volunteers, and supporters who have sustained the movement over the past century. The ICSD looks forward to continuing this legacy and inspiring future generations of deaf athletes.
