Host city | Province of Sondrio Italy |
---|---|
Motto | We Need a Chance |
Nations | 34 |
Athletes | 485 (362 men and 123 women) |
Events | 36 in 6 sports |
Opening | 12 December 2019 |
Closing | 21 December 2019 |
Opened by | Marco Scaramellini |
Winter | |
Summer | |
The 2019 Winter Deaflympics (Italian: 2019 Olimpiadi invernali per non udenti), officially known as the 19th Winter Deaflympics or XIX Winter Deaflympics (Italian: 19° Olimpiadi invernali per sordi), was the 19th edition of the Winter Deaflympics, and took place between the 12–21 December in Sondrio Province in Northern Italy.[1] The opening ceremony was held in Sondrio on 12 December and curling competition began a day prior to the start of the Winter Deaflympics.[2] Sporting events apart from curling commenced on 13 December.[3][4]
36 events took place in 6 sports: alpine skiing, chess, cross-country skiing, curling, ice hockey, and snowboarding.[5] Initially 32 sporting events were slated to be held but three more events were added to the competition by the organisers due to the inclusion of chess, which was a surprise move.[6] Chess made its debut at the 2019 Winter Deaflympics.[7][8]
The 19th Deaflympics were the second time Italy hosted the event, previously hosting the 1983 games in Madonna di Campiglio.[9] The Deaflympics was organised by the Federazione Sport Sordi Italia, the national deaf sports federation in Italy, affiliated with the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf.[10]