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2009 Summer Deaflympics

21st Summer Deaflympics
2009 Summer Deaflympics logo.svg
Motto: "Power in me! 無聲的力量!"
Host city Taipei, Flag of Chinese Taipei for Deaf.png Chinese Taipei
Motto Power in me!(English)
無聲的力量! (Traditional Chinese, lit. The Silent Power!)
Nations participating 80 countries
Athletes participating 2,670 athletes (3,354 including staff members)
Events 182(20 disciplines)
Opening ceremony September 5
Closing ceremony September 15
Officially opened by President Ma Ying-Jeou
Main venue Taipei Stadium

The 2009 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 21st Summer Deaflympics, is an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from September 5 to September 15, 2009 in Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan). It is the third Summer Deaflympics to be held in Asia/Pacific region. Judo, Karate, and Taekwondo have been recognized as new summer disciplines in the Deaflympics sports competition program.

The Chinese Taipei Sport Association for the Deaf expressed its intention to bid for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics following its participation at the 2001 Summer Deaflympics in Rome. Athens, Greece, the host city of the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer Paralympics, was also bidding for the hosting right.

On November 24, 2002, ICSD President John Lovett arrived in Taipei, and visited all recommended venues and facilities during the one week stay. The Chinese Taipei Sport Association for the Deaf gave Mr. Lovett multimedia presentations and made arrangements for him to meet with President Chen Shui-bian, Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee Chairman Huang Ta-chou, and other officials.

Taipei was chosen to host the 21st Summer Deaflympics in a vote held at the 38th ICSD session, finishing ahead of Athens, Greece. Below was the vote count that occurred on February 28, 2003 in Sundsvall, Sweden:

Preparation for the Games started in 2005, with an estimated total budget of NT$ 4.6 billion for the required infrastructure. The construction of the Taipei Stadium alone costs around NT$ 3 billion. The funding is provided by the Taipei City Government and the Sports Affairs Council. The main stadium Taipei Stadium was completed on June 15, 2009, and was certified as a Class 1 Athletics Facility by the IAAF. Besides opening/closing ceremonies and athletics, the football finals were also held at the Taipei Stadium.


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