On August 31 and September 01, 2020 Members of the Plural Committee of the 24th Summer
Deaflympics were in Brasília to talk with representatives of the Federal Government about the competition, in search of mobilization and support with regard to resources, dissemination and organization. The group was formed by Emir José Alves da Silva, Executive President of the Plural Committee of the Deaflympics 2021, Gabriel Citton, Municipal Secretary for Sport and Leisure of Caxias do Sul, and Gustavo Perazzolo, Vice President of ICSD.
The meetings were positive and inspiring. The agenda included a visit to First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro, who is also the godmother of the Brazilian edition of Surdolimpíadas. “I am sure there is a very strong commitment from the First Lady to the deaf community, as she stated that this is one of her flags as a social legacy, being a priority. We took the opportunity to deliver an official shirt for the event to her and the President. ”
The Minister of Citizenship, Onyx Lorenzoni, also received the Caxias do Sul committee, demonstrating in the same way the support in relation to Surdolimpíadas. “In his opinion, this is a project of interest to the country, which will receive athletes and teams from more than 100 countries”, points out Silva. The chair of the Plural Committee also said that the Ministry of Tourism has made itself entirely available so that the best conditions for logistics and hospitality are made possible for delegations from outside, as well as the Ministry of Defense. There, received by Major Brigadier José Arias Augusto de Carvalho Neto, director of the Department of Military Sports and President of the Military Sports Commission of Brazil, the conversation was about the importance of making it easier for deaf athletes to arrive at Brazilian airports and its entry into the country.
Even though, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many resources from the Federal Government were demanded, support for the Deaflympics continues, but within the established principles, respecting the budgets approved for each Ministry. Several departments were also visited, such as Doping Control, Sports, Education, Leisure and Social Inclusion and Parasport, in addition to the Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion (Embratur), which also confirmed its support.
“The great lesson that our delegation brings is that the eye shines when talking about Deaflympics, because it is an opportunity that the country has to show sensitivity as a governmental policy of social inclusion, both by the listening public and the deaf. Everything will be done so that there is a union of efforts and, together, we will promote a great event”, concludes Silva.
