The 2021 Summer Deaflympics, commonly known as Caxias 2021, was held in Caxias do Sul in southern Brazil, from 1 May to 15 May 2022. It was the 24th edition of the Deaflympics.
This was the first time the Games were held in a Latin American country, in a South American country. Around 2,100 athletes from 72 countries participated in the quadrennial event.
Motto:
The Motto of the Deaflympics 2021 was ‘Sports comes from the our hearts’.
Mascot:
The mascot of the Deaflympics 2021 was the Ring-tailed Coati- Nino. This name means: priceless, worthy of appreciation, cheerful, happy, very lucky, auspicious.
- Ukraine led the table with 62 golds (along with 38 silvers and 38 bronze and an overall tally of 138).
Indian contingent:
India sent a contingent of 65 athletes to compete in 11 sports, Athletics, Badminton, Judo, Golf, Karate, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis, Table Tennis, Taekwondo and Wrestling.
- It was India’s largest and youngest Deaflympics representation ever since it made its debut in 1965.
Indian medalists in the 2021 Summer Deaflympics:
India won 16 medals at the Deaflympics 2021. India recorded their best performance at the Deaflympics by winning eight golds, one silver and seven bronze.
- India finished ninth in the Deaflympics 2021 medals tally.
Gold:
Silver:
Bronze:
Background:
The first edition of the Deaflympics, then known as the International Silent Games, were held in Paris in 1924.
India had sent a delegation of 46 participants in the last Deaflympics in Turkey in 2017, bagging a total of 5 medals, which included 1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals.