Serbia May Back Out Its 2005 Deaflympics Handball Team

From: DeafSportlawsuit.com - Dec 1, 2004

Press Release December 1, 2004

SERBIA MAY BACK OUT ITS 2005 DEAFLYMPICS HANDBALL TEAM

Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro – Today is the official final deadline for all National Sports Associations – members of the CISS to register their athletes and teams for the 20th Deaflympic Summer Games which are due to open on January 5, 2005, in Melbourne, Australia.

News has been received that the nation of Serbia and Montenegro ( formerly known as Yugoslavia ) plans to field a small delegation to the 2005 Deaflympics. The three Greco-Roman wrestlers – all of them potential medal winners – will represent the country at these Games.

However, the men's handball team's participation at the Games is still under a huge question mark due to financial difficulties.

Serbia and Montenegro's handball team is the five-time Deaflympic Games gold medalist between 1969 and 1985.

In the event Serbia and Montenegro officially withdraws its handball team from the 2005 Games, then only six teams will remain in the competitions: Brazil, Chinese Taipei, USA, Denmark, Germany and Croatia ( the 2001 Deaflympics champion ).