BULLETIN 1/2006
DISTINGUISHED NBDSF MEMBER COUNTRIES,
Spring has clearly arrived even here in Finland – but exceptionally late this year. However, it is positive that the spring sun has started to shine also for the NBDSF activities. One proof of this is this bulletin and especially the issues mentioned in this bulletin.
During this past spring the Secretariat has been waiting to receive decisions on funding, translating and making corrections in the NBDSF brochures, planning and preparing the sports festivals in Åland and the extraordinary NBDSF meeting in August in Baden. In addition to these, also the preparations for the equality seminar for women have started.
This year the Finnish Athletic Association of the Deaf will fund the NBDSF activities with approximately 5000 €. This sum will cover, for instance, the expenses of the NBDSF extraordinary meeting in Baden, expenses of the equality seminar for women, different kinds of NBDSF material and translation expenses.
As it was agreed in the meeting in Riga, the Finnish and Swedish Deaf Sports Associations will be responsible for the planning and carrying out of the Deaf Sports Festivals in 2008. The Sports Festivals are meant for the representatives of the sport clubs of the NBDSF member countries.
The representatives from Finland and Sweden made an inspection trip to Åland on 23.-24.4. The objective of this trip was to familiarise ourselves especially with the competition sites of different sports and accommodation possibilities. In addition to that, an important part in our programme was a co-operation meeting where also the representatives of the Åland/Mariehamn sports activities were present.
The director of the Åland Sports Federation, Jani Westerlund, very warmly welcomed the Deaf Sports Festivals to be held in Mariehamn, and they are more than happy to help in the organisation of the sports festivals. The representative of the Viking Line, Irina Lundqvist informed us that their company is very interested in co-operation, especially when it comes to the transportation arrangements of the festivals.
At this point, more detailed discussions on the different kinds of sports and other arrangements of the sports festivals were not carried out. The most important thing was to find out how positively Ålanders took co-operation to make the sports festivals a big success.
Jani Westerlund and Irina Lundqvist recommended that the week after Midsummer was the best time to organise these festivals. A preliminary decision was made that Sunday, 22.6. could be the day for arrival, and 27.6. would be the day for departure. This issue will be discussed again at the NBDSF extraordinary meeting in Baden.
Accommodation for all the teams will be very reasonable in Mariehamn.
In the vicinity of the competition sites there are many schools, which can accommodate approximately 1500 people. The school can also offer full board and security services included in the packet price.
The competition sites are close to each other, and it is possible to organise almost all sports included in the NBDSF programme in Mariehamn, if needed. Some sports will be organised approximately 15 kilometres away from Mariehamn. In addition, all sports sites were appropriate and in good condition.
Westerlund wished that at the next NBDSF extraordinary meeting in August the date for the festivals could be decided and an official request for co-operation could be sent to the Åland Sports Federation and Viking Line. NBDSF will also apply financial support for the organisation of the festivals from the authorities of Åland.
Westerlund promised to introduce and recommend the NBDSF application. When the official decision has been made by the Åland authorities during September, the reservations for the competition sites and accommodation can be made.
A questionnaire will be sent the NBDSF member countries on the different kinds of sports requested at the festivals, and after that the most popular sports will be chosen in the sports programme of the festivals. Every NBDSF country is responsible for sending the questionnaire to its national member clubs and for collection and sending the replies to the NBDSF Secretariat. In the beginning of June 2007, the different kinds of sports included in the festivals programme and other practical and other responsibilities connected with the organisation of the festivals will be decided. The preliminary registration should be made by the end of September 2007 and the final registration would be by February-March 2008.
The above issues will be jointly discussed more thoroughly and decisions taken at the meeting in Baden.
Preliminary preparations have been made to organise the equality seminar on 13.-15. or 20.-22. October, in Stockholm. The objective of the seminar would be to map the physical exercise possibilities and activities for deaf women and girls in the NBDSF member countries. Two women from each NBDSF member country will be invited to the seminar. NBDSF will be responsible for the accommodation and meal expenses of every representative. The representatives of the member countries will be responsible only for their own travelling expenses. The date and programme for the seminar are still open. This issue will also be discussed in Baden.
As it was agreed at the Riga meeting, a day before the EDSO Congress an extraordinary NBDSF meeting will be held. At this meeting issues mentioned in this bulletin will be discussed. We propose that the meeting could be held on 23.8. at 16.00-19.00 in Baden. NBDSF will be responsible for the meeting arrangements and serving. The representatives will be responsible for organising their own travelling and accommodation arrangements.
We would kindly ask every member country to send their confirmation and comments the soonest possible, by 7.6.2006 at the latest, if this proposed date is suitable for you. It is possible to postpone the meeting to a later date, too. It is of utmost importance that the representatives of every NBDSF member country could be present at this meeting.
WITH CO-OPERATION AND SPORTS REGARDS,
Jarmo Järventausta Juha-Matti Aaltonen
President Secretary