Press Announcement-CSD Honors the 2007 Winter Deaflympics As a Gold Sponsor

From: CSD - Jan 29, 2007

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
Release Date: Jan. 29, 2007
Contact: Derric Miller
CSD Communications Office
dsmiller@c-s-d.org

CSD Honors the 2007 Winter Deaflympics As a Gold Sponsor

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Jan. 29, 2007) — The 2007 Winter Deaflympics begins this week in Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 1-10, and CSD is proud to announce its role as one of the main, or Gold, sponsors of the global event.

The Deaflympics began in 1924 (then called The World Games for the Deaf) and are the second oldest international multi-cultural sports event in the world. CSD is a Gold level sponsor of the 2007 event, the highest level possible. Deaf and hard of hearing athletes from all over the world will travel to Salt Lake City and compete against other athletes for their shot at the gold.

In 2003, CSD sponsored the USA team to travel to Sweden for the Winter Deaflympics, while sending CSD staff to cover and report on the event. CSD also helped sponsor the Summer Deaflympics in Australia last year, again paying for staff to report and cover the event. This longstanding spirit of partnership has culminated in CSD being named one of the official sponsors of the 2007 Winter Deaflympics, while also being credited with bringing the event to America.

CSD has a strong history of supporting deaf sports. In 2001, the United States of America Deaf Sport Federation (USADSF) requested a partnership with CSD to further the ends of the USADSF. CSD has since opened up an office at CSD headquarters in Sioux Falls and paid for a full time employee to assist the USADSF, now known as the USADSF home office and museum. CSD also supports the USADSF by publishing information in their newspaper SIGNews.

“We are honored to call ourselves an official sponsor of the 2007 Winter Deaflympics,” said Ben Soukup, CSD chief executive officer. “By sponsoring the 2007 Winter Deaflympics at the highest possible level, we are reaffirming CSD’s commitment to deaf and hard of hearing people — on a national and global scale. Best of luck to all of the athletes, and I look forward to traveling to Salt Lake City and witnessing another milestone in Deaf History.”

The 2007 Winter Deaflympics includes competitions in skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, Nordic skiing, and curling. The event will attract approximately 400 athletes from over 20 different countries. For more information on the 2007 Winter Deaflympics, go to www.2007deaflympics.com.

About CSD – CSD (aka Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc.) was established in 1975, primarily to provide sign language interpreting services to deaf and hard of hearing adults in South Dakota. Today, CSD employs over 3,000 individuals in offices across the nation, providing a broad continuum of social and human services programs, as well as telecommunications relay services. CSD is a private nonprofit agency dedicated to providing quality services; ensuring public accessibility; and increasing awareness of issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing and individuals with speech disabilities. For more information, please visit www.c-s-d.org.

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* CSD ~ An Official Sponsor of the 2007 Winter Deaflympics