The Deaflympic Games

Agent Smith

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Deaflympic Games are among the world¹s fastest growing sports events. About 3,000 deaf athletes from about 80 nations are slated to participate in the 20th Summer Games in Melbourne, Australia, on 5th * 16th January 2005. [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The games are built on 80 years of tradition. Organised since 1924 by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds, CISS (The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the first games were held in Paris. The Deaflympic games are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, IOC. The IOC flag will fly throughout the Deaflympic Games. [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Irish Deaf Sports Association is sending a total of 22 competitors to participate in swimming and soccer. The Deaflympic Games are held every four years. The Irish team has an amazing record at the games in a range of sports and has won no less than 12 gold, 9 silver & 8 bronze medals in the last 8 World Games. Ireland still holds the world and European swimming record titles since 1985. [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Irish Deaf Football Team V Norway in 1st leg of Deaflympic Qualifier on 30th May 2004 at Richmond Park, Inchicore, Dublin. Ireland won by 8-1 (Half time 2-1) in 1st leg in Dublin and also won by 4-1 (Half time 1-1) in 2nd leg in Oslo, Norway. [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ireland Deaf Football Team¹s Previous Record as follows:
16th World Deaf Games 1989 (Currently Deaflympic) * Christchurch, New Zealand - Silver Medal lost to Great Britain
2nd European Deaf Football Championship 1991 * Gent, Belgium - Bronze Medal
3rd European Deaf Football Championship 1995 * Berlin, Germany - Silver Medal lost to Italy
19th Deaflympic Games 2001 * Rome, Italy - Bronze Medal [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fixtures 20th Deaflympic Games 2005 - Melbourne, Australia:[/font]

• [font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5th January Ireland V Great Britain[/font]
• [font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]7th January Ireland V Greece[/font]
• [font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]9th January Ireland V Australia[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The footballers and the swimmers are in the state of determined mood to fulfil their ultimate target in winning more medals for Ireland as they embark on a long, arduous journey to Melbourne for participation in the 20th Deaflympic Games from 5th to 16th of January, 2005.
It is likely that Ireland will maintain their reputation as one of the top nations in the swimming events and that they will improve their haul of three medals from last deaflympics in Rome. The 37 year old swimmer/coach Alan Turner will have the distinction of making a remarkable record of 7th appearance in Deaflympics and he is confident that he will win a Gold medal in the relay race. We greet the welcome comeback into action of the legendary John Kealy, as well as the impressive David mcIlroy and the potential of new discovery, 17 years old schoolboy, Eoin Nolan.
Donal Desmond has also taken over the role of Anthony Kiernan as Swimming Director and is now looking after the Swimming squad for the forthcoming games.
I believe that the chances of Ireland winning the most elusive gold medal in the football competition is extremely good this time after they won a silver in 1989 and a bronze in 2001. The fact is that St. Vincent's of Dublin, who supplied eight players into the Irish squad, have been promoted and are playing at the top level football in the highly competitive Senior Division of the Athletic Union League after they won the First Division League Championship quite easily two years ago.
It will be interesting to see how the standard of football in Deaflympics compare with this Athletic Union League!
Ireland will, of course benefit greatly from the crafty Joseph Watson and the three excellent Ulster players in Roy McKee, Richard Dougherty and Noel O'Donnell plus the two exciting teenagers from Cork, Christopher Corcoran and Eoin Burns. The managerial duo of Geoffrey Foy and assistant Joe Sullivan only took over the job last March and they guided Ireland to a record-breaking aggregate score of 12-2 victory over Norway in the qualifying round. Hopefully, their dedication and total commitment will merit rich dividends at the end of the Deaflympics.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]IRISH PARTICIPANTS IN MELBOURNE 2005[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Football Panel
1. Rino Giglione (Leinster)
2. Edna Dunne (Munster)
3. Darren Dunne (Leinster)
4. Geoffrey McCormack (Leinster)
5. Noel O'Donnell (Ulster)
6. Roy McKee (Ulster)
7. Stuart Foy (Leinster)
8. Joseph Watson (Munster)
9. Richard Doherty (Ulster)
10. Derek Jordan (Leinster)
11. Paul O'Callaghan (Munster)
12. Dermot Kelly (Leinster)
13. Eoin Burns (Munster)
14. Eamon Byrne (Munster)
15. Christopher Corcoran (Munster)
16. Ryan Bonass (Leinster)[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Officials
1. Eamon Hayes (President)
2. Fergus Massey (Vice President)
3. June O'Mahony (Treasurer)
4. Donal Desmond (Asst. Treasurer)
5. Christopher O'Broin (Administrator)
6. Dillion Smith (Football Director)
7. Geoffrey Foy (Football Manager)
8. Joe Sullivan (Asst. Football Manager) [/font]

The Irish Deaflympic team are setting out for the Deaf olympics on the 5th of January.

may we all wish them the best of luck.

for more infomation

bizmark

Aye good luck to them

The Muppet

The best of luck to them and let us know how they get on if you're in a position to.

TwoShedsJackson

2. Edna Dunne (Munster)

So they're letting men and women play on one team?? Nice one!!

Agent Smith

i'll keep everyone imformed

wheres me jumpa

i actually know edna dunne, i mean enda! he plays soccer in carlow, so not munster. very good player.

Farls

Aye one of the lads on it is at college up in Letterkenny IT, can't mind his name but the whole lads in his class got their heads shaved to raise money for him to go over just before christmas.

Best of luck to them anyway.

Farlz

Agent Smith

TODAYS RESULTS


IRELAND 0 GREAT BRITAIN 2


Irelands next match is against Greece on friday

eirebhoy

Irish Deaf team qualifies for quarterfinals

In the Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia, Ireland’s football team has qualified for the Quarter Finals where they will meet Italy tomorrow.

In the Group stages Ireland were defeated 2 — 0 by Great Britain in the opening game on Wednesday last. This was followed up, however, by a 3—1 victory over Greece on Friday and an 11—0 romp over hosts, Australia, yesterday.

Tomorrows game Kicks Off at 09.30 local time at Green Gully Reserve, Keilor Downs.

The Muppet

Excellent . 11 - 0 . Good Luck to them Tomorrow,

eirebhoy

Italy's results in the group stage were:

Turkey: drew 1-1
Ghana: won 8-0
USA: won 4-1

eirebhoy

Italy 3 Ireland 4

AFAIK, Ireland play Iran (who beat Holland 4-0) in the semi's.