When I am writing this, we still have two more weeks before the opening of the 1st Sports Festivals. The organisation is progressing in its own pace, but at least it is progressing. Almost 300 Deaf participants have sent in their final registrations. The number is a slight disappointment for us, but however, it is big enough in order for us to organise these first sports festivals!

 

 

The final details for the sports venues, schedules for the competitions and organisation for the school accommodation are still a bit open, but we believe that these matters will be clear by the time you will arrive on Åland. The schedules for the competitions can be changed even at the sports venue. We still hope that you will arrive with sports spirit and patience. We will send you further information as soon as we receive it from Åland. (appendix 1)

 

 

Unfortunately we will have to cancel those sports where there has been only one person registered for it. However, in case there is at least one participant registered for the competitions for adults as well as for the youngsters, these two sports events will be organised together and that event will be carried out. The organising committee has decided that in case there are a minimum of two participants in any sports, it will be carried out. (Please read also appendix 2!)

 

In swimming and track and field there have been the following cancellations and combining of events:

 

Swimming: cancelaltion: Women's 400 metre freestyle and 200m breaststroke, women's 4x100 metre freestyle and mixed relay. In addition, men's 400 metre freestyle and relays will be cancelled.

 

The following two swimming events will be  combined: Women's and girls' 200 metre freestyle and 100 metre backstroke.

 

 

Cancellation: Women's and girls' 1000m relay, men's 800m, men's and boys' 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

 

The following events will be combined: 

Women's and girls' 400 metres, 4x100m relay, long jump and javelin

Men and boys: 100 metres, 1500 metres and long jump 

 

Table tennis for women and girls: events will be combined.

 

We will return the participation fee of 50€ for those sportsmen who already have paid their fees, but will have to cancel their participation due to cancellation. We are sorry to see the low number of participants in some sports. You will find detailed information on the participants and sports events appended.

 

 

Giving out medals will be carried out in the venue right after the competitions/matches are over. There is no time reserved for protests.

 

 

Every festival participant will receive a festival pass. The passes will be distributed in the sports centre as you arrive in Åland. There will be no photos on the passes.

 

 

Especially the sports clubs from the Baltic countries will arrive in Åland already early in the morning of 21.6. There will be no local transportation organised, but we will try to help out those who arrive early in the morning as much as we can. We will send you further information before you arrive! In principle every team is responsible for their own travel and local transportation in Åland.

 

 

We hope that every country participating in the festivals will bring along their official NBDSF flag with them. Please find out from your own country organisation about the details.

 

 

The location of the sports centre is still open. It will be either in the school or in the Baltic hall. You will receive the latest information on all festival organisations from this sports centre.

 

 

 

The sports events and judging tasks etc. at the festivals will be carried out in co-operation with the local sports clubs from Åland.

 

 

The organising committee has invited seven sign language interpreters to work during the festivals. The interpreters will be on duty when necessary at the sports venues and sports centre. Some of the interpreters have the competence at least some of these languages: Finnish-Swedish-English and international interpreting.

 

 

There will be no official ceremonies. However, in the evening of 22.6. and 26.6. there will be a joint get-together and information event at the Mariehamn market. Further information on the times will be given to you later.

 

 

During the festivals on 25.6. there will be a seminar organised where the future of the festivals will be discussed. All interested parties are welcome to attend. The place for the seminar is still open.

 

 

The bowlers are the biggest group participating in the festivals. The total number of bowlers is 58. Appended in this bulletin (numbers 3 & 4) you will find more exact information on the schedules for bowling, contact persons and other arrangements for these events.

 

 

The festivals will be organised in joint co-operation between the Finnish and Swedish Deaf Sports Organisations and with the representatives of the Åland local sports clubs.

 

You will recognise the persons working in the organisation as on their personal pass under their name you can see the word “ORGANIZATION”. Those working in the organisation will mainly be accommodated in Hotel Alandia Park, in the centre of Mariehamn. In urgent matters you can come directly to the hotel, if needed.

 

Juha-Matti Aaltonen will be the contact person during the festivals and his mobile number for SMS messages is: +358 505834994 and email: juha-matti.aaltonen@skul.org. Aaltonen will be on call for 24 hrs, so you can contact him in any issues any time.

 

The next bulletin will be sent to you one week before your arrival, so we hope that you will check your email actively!

 

Other appendices, which will be sent to you for your information or for you to check here are:

Participants according to their sports events (appendix 5)

Participants according to their sports clubs, including the accommodation lists and travel schedules (appendix 6)

 

WELCOME TO MARIEHAMN!!

 

With co-operation regards,

 

Juha-Matti Aaltonen

Secretary for the festivals