On behalf of the Host Committee for the 2012 World Deaf Athletic Championships (WDAC), I am enthused to provide you this report on the exciting progress we have made so far for this significant event which will take place in the City of Toronto (Ontario, Canada) from 15 to 21 July 2012.

It has been confirmed that this event will be held at the Varsity Centre in the University of Toronto. The Varsity Centre is an International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) certified state-of-the-art Track and Field facility that is highly wheelchair accessible with the capability of seating over 5,000 spectators. It hosted prestigious events such as the internationally acclaimed Festival of Champions, which featured World Record holder Usain Bolt the past summer, and the Canadian Track and Field Championships and World Trials. The University of Toronto has expressed that they are ecstatic to add the 2012 WDAC to their list of prestigious events held!

The Varsity Centre in conveniently located in the heart of downtown Toronto, close to all the best the city has to offer: many of its tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, public transit and you name it.

Additionally, Toronto has one of the most culturally diverse Deaf Community in the world. Coincidentally, the Deaf Canada Conference hosted by the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD) and the 8th Deaf History International Conference (DHIC) hosted by the Deaf Culture Centre (DCC) will also take place around the same time as the 2012 WDAC (16-22 July 2012 and 24-29 July 2012 respectively).

As a result, the 2012 WDAC in Toronto will not only be a celebration of our distinguished Deaf athletes, but also a celebration of the very diverse Global Deaf Community as individuals of various backgrounds from all across North America and around the world unites in Toronto in July 2012.

We, the Host Committee of the 2012 WDAC, is currently working hard with passion and enthusiasm to bring this exciting week to fruit. We are working closely with the Canadian Deaf Sports Association (CDSA), Ontario Deaf Sports Association (ODSA), Tourism Toronto, the City of Toronto, the University of Toronto and York University.

Some of our progress includes having secured a separate site for practice (York University), in the process of securing four sites of accommodations for various guests (Delta Chelsea, 89 Chestnut, Seneca Residence and Marriott Bloor), having held an artistic contest for the 2012 WDAC logo, in the process of creating the 2012 WDAC website and most excitingly, a press conference with various VIPs is scheduled to take place on 15 July 2010 to officially launch the countdown to the 2012 WDAC!

We are striving to make the 2012 WDAC one of the most memorable World Deaf Championship events ever and we look forward to welcoming you to Toronto in the Summer of 2012! Join our Facebook Group to stay up to date with our exciting progress!

Sincerely,

Kevin LEE
2012 WDAC Director of Communication & Promotion

On the behalf of the 2012 WDAC Host Committee:

Rohan SMITH - Chairperson
Kateryna GORODESTKA - Assistant Chairperson
Lucy ROSS - Secretary
Christine MACCATANGAY - WDAC Staff
Macklin YOUNGS - Director of Administration & Human Resources
Jon HOUGH - Director of Finance and Treasurer
21 SPORTS MANAGEMENT INC. - Director of Marketing
Jamila ROSS - Media Director
Jim CRIPPS - Director of Accommodation & Transportation
Peter SICOLI - Liaison with the Event Planner, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Roy HYSEN - Canadian Deaf Sports Association (CDSA) Representative