South African Deaf Sport Federation was founded in March, 1974. However it all began in 1973 when the founding fathers – Nico Beaurain, Christie Heyns and Max Ordman came together and discussed the possibility of establishing a Deaf sport organization in South Africa. These three men started working on the idea and finally in March 1974, South African Deaf Sport Federation was born. Contact with the CISS, International Committee of Sport for the Deaf, was made and CISS was happy to accept SADSF as a member in 1975.
However, because during the years between 1960 and 1990, South Africa was subjected to a complex and evolving set of sanctions aimed at influencing South African government to dismantle the apartheid system, SA Deaf Sport Federation was also unfortunately also affected. CISS, because it was part of the Olympic Games movement, did not allow South Africa to participate in any international Deaf sport event under its jurisdiction. In 1992, South Africa was finally welcomed back to the Olympic Games movement after being expelled in 1970 and SA Deaf Sport Federation was, likewise, allowed by the CISS to participate for the first time at the1993 World Games for the Deaf held in Bulgaria and the rest is history.
However, because during the years between 1960 and 1990, South Africa was subjected to a complex and evolving set of sanctions aimed at influencing South African government to dismantle the apartheid system, SA Deaf Sport Federation was also unfortunately also affected. CISS, because it was part of the Olympic Games movement, did not allow South Africa to participate in any international Deaf sport event under its jurisdiction. In 1992, South Africa was finally welcomed back to the Olympic Games movement after being expelled in 1970 and SA Deaf Sport Federation was, likewise, allowed by the CISS to participate for the first time at the1993 World Games for the Deaf held in Bulgaria and the rest is history.
Founders of SADSF
SA Games for the Deaf
