KHANTY-MANSIYSK / MAGNITOGORSK, Russia -- From March 28 to April 5, 2015 for the first time in the territory of the Russian Federation in Khanty-Mansiysk and Magnitogorsk held XVIII Deaflympics Winter Games (Winter Deaflympics) - sporting events among persons with hearing impairments, which are held separately from the 1949 Paralympic Games.
Their separate carrying out due to the fact that the competition among Deaf athletes are conducted in full compliance with the rules of international sports federations for ordinary athletes, while Paralympians compete in the special rules designed for varying degrees of disability.
First Soviet athletes participated in these prestigious competitions in 1971, and since 1995 in the Deaflympics team acts of the Russian Federation. Winter Deaflympics Russians consistently (except for the Games in 1971 and 1987) took first place in the unofficial team standings.
At the XVI Deaflympics Winter Games in Salt Lake City (USA) in 2007, the Russian team won the team event, winning 18 medals (10 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze), taking part in two disciplines (cross country skiing and ice hockey hockey) from four possible.
In the upcoming XVIII Deaflympics Winter Games in Khanty-Mansiysk and Magnitogorsk will be attended by about 450 athletes from 27 countries, which may be a record result in the history of the Games. The program of the Games competitions in five sports will be played 31 sets of medals: ten of them - in alpine skiing, ten - in snowboarding, eight - in ski racing, two sets - curling and one set - in ice hockey.
Russian athletes for the first time in its history, will compete in all events of the Winter Games: Alpine skiing (men, women), curling (men, women), cross-country skiing (men, women), snowboarding (men, women), hockey (men).
Vladimir Putin sends greetings to participants and guests of the XVIII Deaflympics Winter Games in Khanty-Mansiysk and Magnitogorsk.
In welcoming the head of state, in part:
"Russia for the first time takes these prestigious international competitions, which are considered to be unique both in its scale and for inspiring creative force. We are a conscientious approach to the issues related to the organization and conduct of the Games. Strive to ensure that each participant felt in Khanty-Mansiysk and Magnitogorsk comfortable, able to adequately perform and achieve their goals."
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