The press conference on 7 May 2025 at the Haus des Sports in Vienna marks the start of one of the most important inclusive sporting events of the coming years: the 21st Winter Deaflympics will take place in Tirol from 15 to 24 January 2027. Innsbruck and Seefeld, two internationally recognised venues, will become the stage for around 1,400 athletes and accompanying persons from all over the world – and a visible symbol of inclusion, diversity and sporting excellence.
World-class sport and social impact
The Deaflympics are one of the oldest international multi-sport events in the world. The first Summer Games were held in 1924, followed by the premiere of the Winter Games in 1949 – also in Seefeld, Tirol at the time. In 2027, the Games will not only return to Austria, but also to their historical origins.
Deaf athletes will compete at the highest level in seven sports – with one decisive difference to regular sport: instead of acoustic signals, visual stimuli will be used, which creates new sporting dynamics and requires inclusive framework conditions. The Deaflympics impressively demonstrate that top performance is not measured by limitations, but by possibilities.
Strong partners for a strong signal
The 21st Winter Deaflympics 2027 are the result of years of work and close cooperation between national and international organisations. The Austrian Deaf Sports Association (ÖGSV), the Austrian Disabled Sports Association (ÖBSV) and the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) form the foundation of this project.
The ICSD, founded in 1924, is the global umbrella organisation for deaf sport and is responsible for organising the Deaflympics. Over 100 member nations are represented in the organisation, pursuing one central goal: to offer deaf people worldwide a sporting stage at the highest level – regardless of origin or language.
“I am very proud that the Winter Deaflympics are coming back to Austria, to the place where they started in 1949: Tyrol and Seefeld.
I am sure that Innsbruck and Seefeld will be excellent hosts: Austrian hospitality and professionalism in winter sports augur well for the ICSD.”
– Adam Kosa, ICSD president
As a nationally recognised professional association, the ÖBSV works together with regional and international partners to provide structural support, social visibility and sporting recognition.
“Sport in Austria thrives on its diversity. Deaf sport has developed specialised structures in order to best meet the special communication needs of its athletes. Through its successful work, the ÖGSV has ensured greater visibility and recognition. The Austrian Disabled Sports Federation is a partner organisation and long-standing companion of the ÖGSV and is looking forward to the Winter Deaflympics Innsbruck 2027, where we can expect a firework display of top sporting performances from people with hearing impairments.”
– Julian Hadschieff, ÖBSV president
Tirol – a venue with experience and symbolic power
The bidding journey for the Games was a long one, recalls Bernhard Kurzmann, Vice President of the ÖGSV: “As early as 2015, there were initial thoughts of bringing the Winter Deaflympics to Tirol. After a failed attempt, we turned to the Innsbruck event agency ITS GR8 under the direction of Georg Spazier, who conducted a feasibility study on the project. In 2023, we started a new application process – with success. At the 2024 ICSD Congress in Paris, Tirol was awarded the contract, and we now have the opportunity to jointly organise an event of historical and social significance.”
Innsbruck has decades of experience as a host of multi-sport events – from the Olympic Games to the Paralympics and the Masters Games. As a traditional Nordic venue, Seefeld stands for consistency, quality and emotional depth.
The economic expectations are also high: around 20,000 overnight stays and a regional added value of around 3.7 million euros are forecast. Above all, however, Tirol 2027 is a stage for cosmopolitan, inclusive coexistence.
Creating visibility, building bridges
The Winter Deaflympics 2027 are more than just a sporting highlight – they are a signal for society as a whole. They make visible what is often overlooked and raise awareness of the achievements and needs of deaf people.
For Austria’s deaf athletes, this event is a unique opportunity to compete against the world’s elite in front of a home crowd. Five-time gold medallist (alpine skiing) at the last Winter Deaflympics Melissa Köck sums up the significance of this moment:
„For us deaf athletes, it’s something very special to be competing at such a big event in our own country. The Deaflympics 2027 are more than just a competition – they are an opportunity to show what we can do and at the same time raise awareness of our world.”
The official logo underlines this claim: with the gesture for ‘Austria’ – two hands symbolising the eagle – in the centre and the colours of the international Deaflympics movement, it combines national identity with global cohesion.