09.06.2009

                                                                                MEMORANDUM

 

 

 

 

The objective and intention of the workshop was to review the present situation in the NBDSF countries, to check the activities of the NBDSF with the SWOT-analysis, to prepare next year's Sportfestivals, to draft the NBDSF plan of action for 2010-2012 and to discuss the forthcoming ICSD Congress in Taipei in September 2009.

 

The above mentioned objectives were reached at the workshop according to the plans. This memorandum includes the most important issues.

Finland was responsible for the programme, chairing and funding for the workshop.

 

The participant list of the workshop with the email addresses, NBDSF SWOT and plan of action for 2010-2012 are attached to the memorandum.

 

Present situation in the NBDSF member countries

 

Representatives of every member country reported on the present situation of the sports organisation of their own country. At this time those countries, Norway and Lithuania, which were missing from the previous NBDSF meeting were present, but Latvia and Iceland were missing this time.

Compared to the previous workshop the functional situation of the member countries has not essentially changed. Norway reported on their co-operation under the Paralympic organisation. Experiences from the co-operation have been both positive and negative depending on the viewpoint. The most important reason for it has been the functional and financial resources, which it provides. That is why Norway has no plans of giving up the membership in the Paralympic organisation.

The Lithuanian representative mentioned that the biggest change has been the change of the name of the organisation into a committee. The reason behind this name change has been a wish from the Lithuanian hearing Olympic committee, which secured funding for the Lithuanian sports activities. In practice there are no other consequences from this name change in their internal activities.

 

Common to the member countries was, for instance, lack of general appreciation of deaf sports activities compared with the Paralympic activities, challenges in co-operation and communication between the federations and clubs, decrease in number of participants and national sports activities, financial challenges, decrease in the number of elected officials and volunteer workers. Sweden mentioned that their number of members and participation in activities has increased in some sections - as also has happened in Finland.

 

Only the sports organisations of Finland and Sweden have chosen also the development of physical and sports activity for women and girls as point of emphasis in their activity. Only Finland, Sweden and Norway organise training events and seminars regularly for their sports clubs.

Some of the member countries also have great challenges to have equal co-operation with their national Paralympic organisations.

 

A joint decision was made to use the same resolution, which was drafted two years ago because no essential changes in the present situation of the organisations have taken place. A resolution will be drafted with an appeal to the funders of the national organisations of the NBDSF member countries to get equal treatment in comparison to the funding, which the hearing and Paralympic activities receive.

 

 

 

The NBDSF SWOT-analysis, which was drafted in Denmark, was reviewed. It was noted that it still is valid. In the weaknesses -item the comment from the representative from Sweden was added on the activity of members in meetings. Very rarely all the representatives of member countries are fully represented.

 

 

 

An oral report was received. It had been the first Sportfestival ever. 241 deaf persons from 22 member countries participated in the festivals. 

The small number of participation from the clubs of Sweden, Norway and Denmark was a disappointment. In comparison, the number of participants from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania was gratifyingly big. The organisation of the festivals functioned well in spite of the small resources available. In addition to that, the financial result of the festivals was moderate, so that it did not produce big deficits. The festivals were in danger to be cancelled because a decision of the Åland provincial council had made to change the place of the school accommodation and meal arrangements. This partly had an effect on the fact that the accommodation and meal arrangements had to be changed very close to the opening of the festivals. In the seminar organised in connection with the festivals a wish was expressed that the Sportfestivals should be organised every other year and that the place should be the same. The biggest criticism was expressed on the level of judging of the different kinds of sports. In the future hearing and impartial judges would be required. In addition, criticism was given on the accommodation and meal arrangements, but everyone understood the situation extremely well.

A wish was expressed to have angling, petanque and darts as additional sports activities.

The following were part of the Sportfestivals sports in 2008: track and field, futsal, golf, bowling, floorball, and park orienteering, swimming, table tennis and beach volleyball.

 

 

 

The same principals of activity would be followed at the Sportfestivals next year as were in use in the festivals last year. Juha-Matti Aaltonen was given the authority to start work on the festivals organisation and funding applications.

The NBDSF member countries will try to participate in the organisational activities on the spot during the Sportfestivals. Later a decision will be taken on closer co-operation. 

The marketing of the festivals should begin at the end of September at the latest, when also the renewed festival poster will be sent to the organisations and clubs of the member countries. Mona Riis is responsible for designing of the poster. Aaltonen is responsible for other further actions, such as printing and distribution of the posters.

Mona Riis will find out, if there is a possibility to organise a youth camp at the same time with the Sportfestivals. This issue will be discussed later.

The athletes can participate in maximum of three different sports.

Three best ones will receive a prize, although there might not be more than three participants in the sport in question.

The member countries will plan the free time activities during the Sportfestivals. For instance, tug-of-war, darts etc. could be carried out during the evening.

Accommodation and meal arrangements will be planned as carefully as possible using the experiences from the previous festivals.

The needed reservations (places for performances, accommodation, and locations for free time activities) will be made the soonest possible. In addition, information and confirmation on the organisation of the Sportfestivals will be sent to the Åland provincial council, city of Mariehamn and Åland sports federation. Aaltonen is responsible for the above tasks.

At the extraordinary NBDSF meeting in Taipei the present situation of the organisation of the Sportfestivals and responsibilities in division of tasks will be checked.

 

 

 

A decision was made to take up the attached plan of action at the NBDSF ordinary meeting the following day for decision making.

 

Norway agreed to organise the next NBDSF meeting at the end of May or early June in 2011.

 

 

 

Roine told the participants about the present situation and news of EDSO. Roine made a plea for the representatives of the NBDSF member countries to be especially attentive at the EDSO and ICSD Congresses - especially when it comes to the changes concerning the international organisation issues because the statutes of both of these organisations, as they are now, are not necessarily interrelated to the decisions taken at the Congresses - as it happened at the Congress in Slovakia.

 

It was noted that the representatives of all the NBDSF member countries will be present at the meeting. No information is available about Iceland. A long discussion was carried out on the ICSD present situation and issues concerning its organisational changes. The representatives that were present told about the numbers of their teams and travel plans to the Deaflympic games.

 

Sweden will participate in the games with a team of 60 persons, where approximately 40 are athletes. The main sports are swimming, cycling, bowling, women's basketball, marathon and wrestling. They will have accommodation at the Grand Hotel.

 

Lithuania will participate in the games with a team of 60-65 persons, approximately 43 athletes. The main sports are basketball, badminton, table tennis, beach volleyball (women), orienteering, track and field and swimming.

 

Denmark will participate in the games with a team of 60 persons, with 45 athletes. Main sports are men's and women's football, bowling, judo, badminton, orienteering and table tennis.

 

Finland will participate in the games with a team of 30-35 persons, with 25 athletes. Main sports are bowling, beach volleyball, orienteering and track and field. Accommodation will be at Hotel Caesar.

 

Norway will participate in the games with a team of 10 persons. Main sports are bowling, track and field and orienteering. Accommodation will be at the same hotel as Finland.

 

Estonia will participate in the games with a team of 26 persons. Main sports are swimming, track and field, bowling, orienteering and beach volleyball. Accommodation will be at the Golden China Hotel.

 

 

 

The memorandum was drafted by

 

 

 

Juha-Matti Aaltonen

Secretary