Football & Futsal
2009 Deaflympics Football Competition
More progress has been made since the last E-news with major rebuilding work being done on the remaining two pitches at YingFeng Sport Park. It is expected to be completed by this month. I have asked the Taipei Deaflympics OC to install electronic scoreboards and to evaluate the possibility of adding more seats behind the goal line to increase capacity at YingFeng Sport Park.
The grass construction at Pailing Sport Park (training pitches) started just after my last E-news report in February, scheduled to be completed by the end of June.
Referees are being recruited as I write this report. I hope to have an update on this by the next E-news just before the Deaflympics.
I have confirmed the final competition and training schedules and both are now available on the official website.
2011 World Deaf Fustal Championships
All host bids are now closed for this championship. During Easter, I went to Ankara, Turkey to inspect their facilities as a possible venue for 2011 and I was very pleased with what they could offer for 2011. I will visit Örebro, Sweden later this month to inspect their facilities as a possible venue for 2011.
2012 World Deaf Football Championships
All host bids are now closed for this championship. I went to Ankara, Turkey to inspect their facilities as a possible venue for 2012 and was hugely impressed by what they could offer for 2012. I would like to thank Dogan Ozdemir, Turkish Deaf Sport Federation President, Memet Acak, Turkish Deaf Sport Federation Secretary and Ali Metin, Turkish Football Association Football Director for their hospitality during my stay in Ankara.
For both 2011 and 2012 World Championships, I will soon make recommendations at the next Congress in Taipei, later this year, as to which city deserves to be awarded as hosts.
Yours in football,
Christof NIKLAUS
ICSD Technical Director - Football