Report From Vice President
In May I attended the World Deaf Martial Arts Championships in Toulouse in France as an official ICSD observer. It is my first time as the official observer. Josef WILLMERDINGER, ICSD Sports Director was also present as the three technical directors are very new in their positions. They did an excellent job after taking into account that it is their first time. The championships included 3 different sports – Judo, Karate and Taekwondo. From there I learned alot and found these sports very interesting and appealing. Sometimes I regret for not joining one of these sports when I was young and fit!
I have been on one important programme which I believe it will be real starting block for Africa Deaf Sports. Since reported in my last E-News report, seven countries have registered for the qualifying Football Tournaments for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics. The Southern region tournament will be held between 13th and 16th August 2008 in Boksburg (near Johannesburg), and the Northwestern region- between 19th and 22nd August in Accra. The winner from each of two tournament will be invited to participate in the 2009 Deaflympics. Participating nations in the Southern region are South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. For the Northwestern region, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria are participating countries. John YUSUF, the CADS Secretary General, will be present in Ghana as my assistant and it will be golden opportunity for us to work closely. I am sure he will be very useful for Africa Deaf Sports. ICSD is very appreciative of the hosts for accepting to host at such a short notice.
I strongly emphasize that the next qualifying football tournament for the 2013 Summer Deaflympics in Athens must be part of the Africa Nations Football Cup which will take place in either 2011 or 2012. So I will meet with some countries and discuss with them about hosting the next qualification round when I am in South Africa and Ghana in August.
David Lanesman
ICSD Vice President