1st International Summer Deaf Games closing ceremony took place in Bashkiria

The 1st International Summer Deaf Games, “We are Together. Sport”, officially started in the capital of Bashkiria on July 24, was finished in Ufa on August 31. More than 1.5 thousand representatives from 30 countries of four continents, the Persian Gulf, the Middle East, France, Spain, the USA, and others became participants in large-scale competitions.

The competition program included badminton, basketball, bowling, mountain bike, volleyball, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, handball, judo, karate, athletics, table tennis, swimming, shooting, sambo, tennis, taekwondo, and football.

The most numerous were the teams of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Iraq, and Kenya. Bashkiria was represented by 36 athletes in the Russian national team at international competitions, 13 of them in the leading team.

The closing ceremony of the games was held at the site of the Rima Batalova sports training center. The Head of the Republic, Radiy Khabirov, greeted the delegates and guests of the event.

“These 10 wonderful days of sports and friendship are ending. On behalf of the people of Bashkiria, I want to thank you for this holiday to thank all the athletes who showed courage, valor, and showed their human qualities. I thank all the delegations that have visited us - at this difficult time, you have chosen sport without politics. You had to overcome thousands and thousands of kilometers to find yourself in Bashkortostan. Thank you very much. When such holidays end, it is always a little sad because you are leaving. But we always look to the future with faith and hope. Bashkortostan has opened its arms, heart, and soul for you, which means we are always waiting for you. I am sure there will be many more bright sports holidays, where we will see you again, hug and say: it was great! We love and respect you very much,” said Radiy Khabirov.

The head of the region emphasized that the athletes of Bashkiria, as part of the Russian team of Russia won 25 medals - 15 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze.

According to the Deputy Minister of Sports of Russia, Odes Baysultanov, the Summer Deaf Games “We are Together. Sport” has become the largest and most significant international competition in the official sports calendar of the country.

“We were convinced again that this was not just a competition. This was a wonderful holiday. During the games, we have witnessed incredible victories, wonderful performances. I want to express special gratitude to the Head of Bashkiria, Radiy Khabirov, and his team. From the bottom of my heart, I congratulate all the winners and prize-winners of the games,” shared Odes Baisultanov.

As part of the closing ceremony, veterans of the Deaf Olympic Games and the youngest participants of the competitions were also awarded, as well as winners in such categories as "Sport without borders", "Rukh" (restraint and the will to win), "Media breakthrough" and others.

Earlier, Bashinform News Agency reported that the International Summer Deaf Games in Ufa were discussed at the Russia-Africa 2023 summit.