The IOC and the ICSD signed the Memorandum of Understanding at the International Olympic Committee headquarters

Lausanne - On Tuesday, 8 March 2016 - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) signed the Memorandum of Understanding at the International Olympic Committee headquarters.

IOC President Thomas Bach and ICSD President Dr. Valery Rukhledev share the same vision of promoting physical and sporting activities for the well-being of society.

 The IOC recognizes the importance of ICSD as a multi-sport event and as a non-governmental international sports organization, and agrees to support ICSD based on the following principles:

 - Including deaf athletes and spectators in sport;

- protecting athletes" health and clean athletes;

- organising activities and sports events within the Olympic Movement;

- sharing and managing knowledge on support and training programmers for athletes and officials, as well as support programms for effective games management;

- sharing content on the IOC"s Olympic Channel and other platforms; and

- aligning their communication, marketing and commercial programmes.

The MoU shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Switzerland. The ICSD acknowledges and accepts that its continuing recognition by the IOC is conditional upon the ICSD complying at all times with the Olympic Charter, as well as contribute to the Olympic Movement"s goal of “building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised in accordance with Olympism and its values”.

After signing the Memorandum of Understanding, ICSD Executive Board; Ms. Jennifer Mann, Head of the IOC Sports Partnerships and Coordination; ICSD CEO; President of the Swiss Deaf Sports Federation; 2017 Summer Deatlympics Organising Committee, Deaf International Basketball Federation (DIBF) and Deaf International Football Associations (DIFA), have participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, dedicated to the official opening of the ICSD headquarters at Maison Du Sports International in the Olympic Capital Lausanne.

Alongside the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, the ICSD Executive Board held 3 days of meetings in the period of 6-8 March, regarding various aspects of Deaf sports and status of preparations for the forthcoming 2017 Summer Deaflympics.  The Organising Committee for 2017 Summer Deaflympics along with the Ministry of Turkish Sports presented their 3rd progress report for the 2017 Summer Deaflympics to the ICSD Executive Board.