The hand-held fan is one of only five fans made for the Winter Deaflympics 2011 in Slovakia. They were handed out at the 39th Congress of International Committee of Sports in January 2004 in Melbourne, Australia, as part of Slovakia’s bid in 2003 to host the 17th Winter Games. Gordon Hay on behalf of Deaf Sports UK donated this fan in 2016.
Why is it rare?
The 2011 Winter Deaflympics were originally scheduled to be held from 18th to 25th February 2011 in Vysoke Tatry, Slovakia. This was the first time that Slovakia was selected to host a Deaflympics event.
Twenty- five countries and over 250 athletes were expected to participate. Deaf competitors, coaching staff and supporters from all over the world arrived at Bratislava airport for these Games, only to find there was no Welcome party there to greet them. Enquiries were made but no-one at the airport or the police knew anything about any Deaflympics. Some athletes arrived at their hotels that had no knowledge of their bookings, found slopes closed for competition and ice rinks resembling building sites.
The local Police then investigated and learned that no hotels had been booked for competitors and no event venues had been booked. Nothing at all! The sporting event had to be cancelled as there were evidently no preparations. Only a week before the proposed opening on 18th February, and with delegations from as far away as Canada, United States and Japan already in Europe, the Games were officially cancelled.
It was then found that the sole organiser of the Games, who was the former President of the Deaflympics Committee of Slovakia, had stolen all the entry fees amounting to nearly €2 million and also an EU grant of €11 million intended to prepare the country to host the Games. He was caught but has refused ever since to say what happened to the total amount of €13 million. He was sentenced for 13 years, one year for each €1 million. The money still has not been found.