DIFA DEAF INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ACCOCIATION

We continue to publish archive materials about deaf sports. The XXIII Deaflympics officially started at the stadium in Samsun, Turkey. The festival at the stadium turned into a fascinating demonstration of deaf sports, youth and beauty. We will not be mistaken if we say that the entire first half of the day, young Samsun - a giant city with a multi-million population - lived in anticipation of the sports festival among the deaf. Truly, the Deaflympics are not only deaf athletes. Their ideals are near and dear to millions of people all over the planet. The grand opening of the XXIII Summer Games became another vivid confirmation of this. Let's look around in the remaining minutes before the start of the festival, once again look into the faces of the deaf athletes - how many sincere feelings, genuine trepidation, how transparent the light of expectation on these faces is!.. The Turks did not spare their strength and talents, preparing for the Deaflympics. But there is also a clear feedback: now each of the Turks will be generously gifted with the light of the Deaflympic Flame, which is about to soar into the Turkish sky, giving unforgettable days of the Deaflympic Games competitions. Television showed dozens of people on the planet involved in the Deaflympic Games. The Deaflympic Games are an outstanding event in international sports life, reflecting the desire of peoples for peace, harmony, beauty. Prominent state, political and public figures who arrived for the Olympics, parliamentarians from different countries, mayors of capitals of a number of countries, heads of international organizations, members of the International Sports Committee of the Deaf, presidents and secretaries general of international sports federations, representatives of the diplomatic corps, Deaflympic champions from many countries are sitting in the boxes. Great moments of the Deaflympic Games. Women's football. Russia - 2017. The victory of the women's football team at the 2017 Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey. The victory of the Russian national football team at the 2017 Deaflympics still remains a big surprise for many. The women's team was certainly not a clear favorite against the superpowers of Poland, Brazil or Turkey, but they managed to spring a surprise. In 2017, the team was brought to Samsun by Mikhail Shlenkov and Yakov Frenkel - these are the names usually associated with this triumph.

20 years ago, how the Russian women's national team was revived. The tournament was held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Russian women's national football and futsal teams. Football as a deaflympic sport was included in the program of the first Deaflympic Games in 1924 (women's football - in 2005). Men's football players debuted in the football tournament in 1969 at the XI Deaflympic Games (Belgrade, Yugoslavia). And women's - in 2005 at the XX Deaflympic Games (Melbourne, Australia). Achievements of the USSR/Russia men's team: three-time champions of the Deaflympics (Malmo, Sweden, 1973; Cologne, Germany, 1981; Sofia, Bulgaria, 2013), silver medalists of the Games (Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1969; Taipei, Taiwan, 2009), bronze medalists of the Games (Bucharest, Romania, 1977). European champions in 1991 (Ghent, Belgium) and 2011 (Odense, Denmark) among men. Achievements of the Russian women's team: silver (Melbourne, Australia, 2005; Sofia, Bulgaria, 2013), bronze (Taipei, Taiwan, 2009) and champions of the Deaflympics in 2017. 2008 World Champions (Patras, Greece). Silver medalists of the 2013 World Cup (Ankara, Turkey) and silver medalists of the 2016 World Cup (Naples, Italy). 2011 European Champions (Albena, Bulgaria). From 2000 to 2017, the Russian Federation hosted championships and tournaments in football and futsal for men and women for the first time. All these competitions were held at a high organizational and sporting level thanks to the efforts of M.V. Shlenkov and I.M. Frenkel. The Russian women's team is one of the leaders in world football, proving this with its results in recent years.

Presentation dedicated to the 100th anniversary of international deaf sports 1924 - 2024. The first ever International Deaf Games were held in August 1924 in Paris, France. The initiator of the competition was the Frenchman Eugene Rubin-Alcais. After the Games, he, together with other deaf sports figures, founded the ICSD and became the first president of the organization. The Deaflympics (until 2001 — World Games of the Deaf, until 1967 — International Games of the Deaf) are sports competitions for people with hearing impairments. They are held under the auspices of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). A distinctive feature of the Deaflympics is that during these competitions, sound signals such as a starting pistol, referee's whistle, etc. are not used. Athletes with a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in the better ear can participate in the Deaflympics. During the competition, participants are prohibited from using hearing aids and cochlear implants. Since 1924, the Summer World Deaf Games have been held regularly once every 4 years (except during World War II). In 1949, the first post-war Summer Games were held, as well as the first ever Winter World Deaf Games in the ski resort of Seefeld. In 1955, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the ICSD as an international federation with Olympic principles. Athletes from the USSR first took part in the Summer Deaflympics (World Deaf Games) in 1957 in Milan (Italy), and in the Winter Games in 1971 in Adelboden (Switzerland). The International Deaf Sports Festival is held by the world deaf community throughout September, and is also celebrated on October 4, 2024, at the Theater of Mimicry and Gesture (TMG). The presentation material includes the history of the first World Games of the Deaf, the organization of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, the renaming of the Deaflympics, athletes - champions and prize winners of the Summer Deaflympics and their symbols. Video by Stanislav Zalmanovsky.

DIFA DIFA LOGO. This football game has a huge history, and over these 13 years, DIFA has acquired many fans and legendary athletes who contributed to the development and popularization of football and futsal in general. As you know, the history of football is very long, this sport of the ICSD is very popular all over the world and originated quite a long time ago. Already in 1867, the Football Association was created in Glazov (Scotland), where general rules of the game were adopted, which prescribed the amateur, and not professional nature of the new sport. Since 1890, nets began to be hung on football goals, and then teams began to be created not only in Great Britain, but also in other European countries. It is worth noting that there were no uniform requirements for equipment, the following were mandatory: a T-shirt, long socks tucked into trousers, boots and a hat (sometimes players wore top hats). A unified uniform was introduced only in the 1920s, when a sweater and long shorts with suspenders became mandatory. Since 1891, wearing studded boots has been allowed, but the length of the studs and the material (leather) were specified. Since 1939, numbers have appeared on the shirts. The first official international match in deaf football took place in 1924 in Paris (France) between the national teams of France and Belgium, the score was 5:1 in favor of France. Since 1924, deaf football officially became a Deaflympic sport (World Games of the Deaf), in the first year only three teams from France, England and Belgium participated in the competition. Since then, deaf football has been steadily developing, so that 16 teams took part in the football tournament of the last Deaflympic Games in 2005 in Melbourne (Australia). And at the qualifying stage of that tournament, the number of participating teams exceeded fifty. Women's football debuted at the 2005 Summer Deaflympics in Melbourne (Australia), and today it is firmly on its feet and developing by leaps and bounds. For the first time in the history of deaf football, the World Deaf Football Championships for both groups was held in 2008 in Patras (Greece). Currently, football is one of the most prestigious and popular (in terms of number of participants) sports in the Deaflympics program. In addition to the football tournaments of the Deaflympics, various continental football championships are currently held (European, Asian, Pan-American), in which teams from more than 70 countries participate. Futsal (men's, women's) is also actively developing and has various championships. Due to the growth in the number of teams and the expansion of the geography of football and futsal for the deaf, it was decided to create the Deaf International Football Association (DIFA), which was officially registered by the Registration Chamber in Geneva (Switzerland) on June 14, 2010. And in September 2018, DIFA was registered in Moscow (Russia). The Deaf International Football Association (DIFA) is an officially recognized International Sports Committee of the Deaf (ICSD), engaged in the development and popularization of football and futsal for the deaf throughout the world. Since 2015, DIFA has been a full member of the ISCD, and working contacts have currently been established between DIFA and FIFA. www.difa.org

In June 2024, Astana (Kazakhstan), the World Deaf Futsal Championship for youth under 21 opened with a colorful show. "Previously, the World Deaf Futsal Championships for youth under 21 were held in Kazakhstan. This year, Astana, Kazakhstan hosted the World Deaf Futsal Championship, which is a great honor for us. This start was held at a high organizational level and proved itself only from the positive side. During the competition, fans saw and enjoyed the game of the strongest youth teams on the planet. The opening ceremony at the Astana Arena, which gathered more than several thousand spectators, was attended by the Akim of Astana, the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the President of the Deaf Football and Futsal Federation of Kazakhstan, the Football Federation of Kazakhstan, the President of the ICSD Adam Kosa, the President of DIFA Yakov Frenkel and the ICSD Sports Director Jurgen Endress. A special dance number on the futsal field with a video broadcast about the famous history of ancient Kazakhstan.

The President of the International Deaf Football Association (DIFA), Iakov Frenkel, has proposed to the DIFA Executive Committee a calendar for national teams and clubs, which outlines the championships to be held from 2024 to 2031. The DIFA Executive Committee will review and discuss this proposal during its meeting on September 14, 2024. The DIFA Executive Committee is also considering a proposed change to the competition format of the Deaf Football and Futsal Championship. The proposal suggests reducing the number of participating teams from 20-24 to 16 teams, with four groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, would advance to the round of 16. This modified format aims to reduce the risk of withdrawals by some deaf sports and football federations due to financial constraints before the start of the Deaf Football and Futsal Championship. The sporting director has been compelled to revise the format of the championship several times. Therefore, DIFA urges all deaf sports and football federations to carefully consider these changes before submitting applications to ICSD and DIFA to host or participate in the championships. This will help prevent any potential damage to the credibility of the federation. In addition, DIFA is developing a new format for a club championship in football and futsal for the deaf. This new format will feature a large-scale tournament with 16 of the strongest men's and women's clubs from around the world. The first club championship is expected to be held in 2025, either in China or Oman. DIFA will soon publish the official calendar for the football and futsal championships for the deaf, covering the period from 2024 to 2031, on its website.

Wings News, Sending you emails, colleagues in the DIFA Global Business Department. 1- Add an important department to the DIFA organizational structure: the DIFA Global Business Department. This department will be responsible for business relations, trade consulting and sponsorship consideration. In all DIFA member states, sponsorship or business collaboration with DIFA will be subject to a first round of review by this department, instead of individually approaching DIFA officials as in the past to reach the terms of the exchange. Any sponsorship or business collaboration achieved through unauthorized contact will not be approved by the board of directors. In the initial phase of setting up this business department, AHMED and Ronnie will take on key responsibilities. As DIFA is a non-profit public charity, Wings will act as the official business consultancy company within DIFA to facilitate normal business and trade exchange. Any final decision regarding business and trade relations with DIFA will be made by the DIFA body. The organizing committee unanimously recognizes and accepts Ronnie as a member of the DIFA committee for his abilities and resources accumulated over two years. And together with Ahmed, who is in charge of the business marketing department. 2- Regarding Wings' role in DIFA, it will no longer be a partner of DIFA, but externally, Wings is the official business consulting company of DIFA. In addition, it is displayed separately in a specific place on the official website of DIFA. 3- DIFA will inform ICSD of these changes and receive support and recognition from ICSD. This is also a great opportunity for ICSD, as the development of DIFA's market is gradually gaining momentum. In the future, DIFA's marketing department can also play a corresponding role and contribute to the ICSD competition. Of course, at present, we need time to establish and improve. 4- List high-quality products such as Chinese herbal tea, agarwood or other products on the official website of DIFA. 5- We may try to put some information about business consulting on the official DIFA website or social media. Any DIFA member who wants help with business consulting through the DIFA Marketing Department can contact our new department directly. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Wings I'll tell you what this Wings company is. Sports has great influence and significance all over the world. It not only develops people's health and lifestyle awareness, but also promotes international exchange and friendship. While promoting social harmony and stability, it also plays an important role in promoting economic development and national image. Wings was previously associated with the sports advertising, marketing and event service company supporting the venue of Shanghai East Asia Group. As a professional sports company, Wings has an experienced and highly qualified all-round event team. Through years of deep development and efforts, Wings has established extensive cooperative relationships with various sports associations, clubs, schools, etc. By fully integrating resources, it provides customers with high-quality comprehensive sports commercial services. In August 2016, under the guidance of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), it jointly developed the club's commercial market environment in China in the form of shareholding cooperation with the Brazilian football club Palmeiras. In 2018, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports of Thailand authorized and recognized it as the only official operating agency in China from the World Association for the Promotion of Muay Thai Culture (WMO). In June 2022, DIFA (International Deaf Football Federation) authorized and trusted it to be the only official representative agency for various public welfare sports activities and the establishment of a sports business environment carried out by DIFA in China. In 2023, the International Deaf Football Association (DIFA) joined forces with Wings to locate DIFA's administrative headquarters in China and event and commercial settlement headquarters in Hainan Free Trade Port. And appointed Wings as the only official operating agency of DIFA's headquarters in China. In the future, Wings will rely on the unique business policy of Hainan Free Trade Port to invest in and build a trading network platform for the transfer of professional players of the International Deaf Football Federation for DIFA, and carry out extensive cooperation with China Data Exchange to realize the integration of sports in the fields of business and trade, tourism, science and technology, artificial intelligence, etc. Through data forwarding, it helps DIFA improve the integration of global information and data of professional athletes, amateur athletes and fans, and build a complete database of DIFA. For cross-border e-commerce of cooperative enterprises. The international data information it has can realize more benefits from sharing with business partners and supporting the re-employment of deaf people. We will work together with you to create a global deaf commercial market environment, provide better employment opportunities in deaf sports and exchange platforms for hearing-impaired football players in different countries, and move forward side by side to promote the development of deaf football!

DIFA's headquarters are located in Haikou, Hainan Island, China. 31.05.2024 The Deaf International Football Association (DIFA) officially opened the new DIFA headquarters in Haikou. ... The glazed facade is used to house DIFA offices, 3 employees will get a window seat. Glass panels are widely used in interiors to maximize sunlight. It is a magnificent facility - large in scale, yet massive for every visitor. Our kind of Deaf soccer unites people and sweeps away barriers.