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Summer Deaflympics, Αthens 2013

 

The 22nd Deaflympics will be held in Athens in summer 2013. It is expected that over 4,000 athletes from 100 countries will take part in the games.

The decision on the organisation of Deaflympics 2013* was taken by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (I.C.S.D.) during its 40th Congress. The Memorandum of Agreement for the organisation of Deaflympics by Greece was signed in Athens with the presence of the Deputy Minister of  Sports, Mr. Yannis Ioannidis, the President of the Organising Committee Athens 2013, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, the President of I.C.S.D., Dr Donalda Ammons and Mrs. Tiffany Granfors, ICSD Chief Executive Officer.

In his short greeting, Mr. Yannis Ioannidis, said, inter alia: "It is a great honour that Mrs. Ammons and Mrs. Vardinoyannis are here with us today, for the signing of the memorandum of cooperation for the Deaflympics. Mrs. Vardinoyannis, who is well known for her humanitarian activities, has taken over the Presidency of the Organising Committee with great pleasure. At least 5,000 athletes from 100 countries along with their 10.000 companions and officials will participate in the Deaflympics 2013, which have been appointed to us in Salt Lake City, making it another great sports event hosted by Greece which is certain that will have a success comparable to that of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Sports Mr.Douvis

Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis said: "I am particularly happy but, mostly, deeply moved that the Greek State gave me the honour to lead the Organising Committee of the 2013 Deaflympics in Athens. Dear Minister, I would like to assure you from the bottom of my heart, that my colleagues and I will do everything possible, in order these games to be a success".

In her greeting, Mrs. Donalda Ammons pointed out: "I am happy to be here today for the signing of this memorandum. I believe that the games which will take place in Athens will be the best ever."

After the signing of the memorandum, the work of the Organising Committee began, both formally and actually, as there are many important tasks to be completed by 2013.

* As the Deaf athletes possess no physical or mental disabilities, but only hearing loss, they are not eligible to participate in the Paralympic Games; instead, they come together in their own competitions designed specifically to satisfy their physical, psychological, and social needs.
This work was not achieved in one day. It took many years -since 1888 that the first Deaf sport club was established in Berlin, till 1955, when the International Olympic Committee acknowledged deaf people’s sports activities, up to the recognition of sign language as a bona fide language in 1970.
Today, to qualify for the Deaflympics, the athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 db in their "better ear". Hearing aids, cochlear implants and the like are not allowed to be used, in order to place all athletes on the same level, as the communication between athletes and trainers or team-mates is prevented during the competition.

The use of sign language is allowed, which is considered fair for two reasons: It can be used by everybody, provided they can see and it constitutes the language of the community of the deaf people, which most athletes prefer.

2011
UNESCO Heads of States Forum
There is HOPE!
Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
2010
Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The Global Forum against human trafficking.
Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
Makistos smiles again!
83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
International campaign supporting Greece.
The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
2009
Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
International Conference «Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the World» and the Cairo Declaration.
International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
2008
The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
Universal call for the Climate Change.
The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
The “Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies” in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
2007
2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
The Chart of Paris against cancer.
The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
Global Humanitarian Forum.
Makistos smiles again.
2006
Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
Fundraising Dinner to support the “End Human Trafficking Now” global campaign.
The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
International Center for Peace Studies.
Protecting youth from drugs.
The Multicultural Children Centre “Athina” in Belgrade.
1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
2005
Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
2004
Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
International Conference “Women in the Service of Peace” in Paris.
International Conference “Women defending Peace” in Geneva.
2003
2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
Exhibition “The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon”, at UNESCO.
The Mentor Awards.
Awards to mothers.
2002
Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
2001
The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
2000
A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
1999
By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
The Hague Appeal for Peace.
International Conference “Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century” in Paris.
Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
By the side of the earthquake victims.
International Conference “Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet”.
1998
A three-point shot for a life.
European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
Family and the mass media.
Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
1997
International Conference “Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe”.
By the side of the children of Xanthi.
Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.