Ireland, Italy and Germany Withdraw Teams From 2005 Deaflympics

From: Deafsportlawsuit - Nov 8, 2004

Press Release

News has been received that Ireland, Italy and Germany decided to withdraw their teams from the 20th Deaflympic Summer Games competitions which are due to open January 5, 2005, in Melbourne, Australia.

Due to the financial difficulties, Ireland decided to withdraw its teams in Women's Basketball and Men's Water Polo, while Italy cancelled its entries in Women's Volleyball and Men's Beach Volleyball. Germany will not send its Men's Basketball team to the 2005 Deaflympics.

Now, according to the CISS regulations and decision of the last 38th CISS Congress held in Sundsvall, Sweden, these three countries will have to pay to the CISS Treasury the fines now.

As a result, Ireland and Italy, each, must now pay a fine of $10,000.00 to for withdrawing of their two respective teams, while Germany pays the $5,000.00 fine.

In the event, pursuant to the CISS rules, these countries fail to pay the fines in timely manner, then their delegates to the 39th CISS Congress and athletes registered to compete in different sports at the 20th Deaflympic Games, will be banned from attending in these two events.

In retrospect, in 2001 Russia decided to withdraw its Women's Handball team from competing at the 19th Deaflympic Summer Games held in Rome, Italy, which automatically resulted in a $2,500,00 fine by the CISS. Russia paid the fine and its athletes were eventually permitted to compete at these Games, in which they earned 49 medals.