ICSD President's Message Safety Takes Priority

Greetings to Everyone!

There were a lot of rumors recently about unsafe environment in Samsun, Turkey during the 2017 Summer Deaflympics. I would like to share with all of you that Samsun historically has been a non-political, quiet and conservative city. In the history of Turkish Republic, no act of terrorism, or other terrifying accident ever happened in Samsun.

The 2017 Summer Deaflympics will be a tremendous success in terms of great organization and in terms of safety. Samsun is located in the North part of the Republic of Turkey on the Black Sea, 900 kilometers (560 miles) from the border of Syria. Our athletes, guests and delegates will fly to Samsun with a transfer either via Ankara or Istanbul International Airports. In both hubs, the representatives of our Organizing Committee will meet our athletes, delegates and guests in order to give them an appropriate accreditation and to help them with the further transfer to Samsun. Please do not be concerned about the logistics, leave it up to us.

Upon their arrival to Samsun, our athletes, delegates and guests will be met by the representatives of our Organizing Committee. They will be transferred further to the Deaflympics village accompanied by the police troops.

The local authorities are providing about five thousand (5,000) policemen for the entire period of the Deaflympics. This number is almost equal to the number of our athletes.

Over the past years, major terrorist acts occurred in such large cities as London, Brussels, and Madrid. One can never foresee when and if they happen again. But our Organizing Committee, ICSD and the Turkish government are doing everything possible and impossible to ensure the highest level of security for our athletes, delegates and guests. 

We welcome our athletes, delegates and guests to the 2017 Summer Deaflympics!

In February, I will be in Samsun for the 2nd Chef de Mission meeting and there will be more representatives from the ICSD from all over the world.  I will be back soon with more updates.

Thank you!