A Quiet Olympics : 2,500 Athletes From 140 Nations Open World Games for the Deaf

The opening ceremony of the 15th World Games for the Deaf Wednesday was patterned after the Opening Ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. But allowance had to be made for the large number of deaf and hearing-impaired athletes and fans attending.

At the 1984 Olympics, the thundering roar could be heard from the crowd of 92,655 even before the first nation, Greece, entered the Los Angeles Coliseum. When Greece entered there was a roar .

At UCLA’s Drake Stadium Wednesday, there was no noise, just the sound of whispering. In the crowd of 7,000, there were arms waving; the crowd was cheering in sign language. When France, the host nation of the first Games for the Deaf in 1924, finally entered, arms were thrust into the air. In sign language, the applause was thunderous.

The approximately 8,000 athletes from 140 countries paraded in national costume around the Coliseum, waving to the cr o wd and their particular fans.

The 2,500 athletes from 140 nations walked around smiling and waving to the crowd at Drake Stadium.

Zimbabwe was the last nation before the United States to be introduced. The crowd’s cheers drowned out the music of Stars and Stripes Forever. The contingent of 589 American athletes was caught up in the emotion of the moment. High-fives, kisses and an outpouring of emotion followed.

Venezuela was introduced, and next up was the United States. A faint cheer was heard. Faint though it was, it was the loudest of the day. The athletes didn’t jump or scream. Instead, they raised their hands in unison, giving a sign common at University of Texas football games. In sign language, the “Hook ‘em Horns” symbol means I love you .

Nine former U.S. Olympic medalists were among the 11 people who carried the Olympic flag. Included were Bruce Jenner and John Naber.

Wednesday, only one athlete carried an Olympic flag, one of the last people in the parade. Swimmer Jeff Float, the only hearing-impaired person to win a gold medal at last summer’s Olympics, carried the banner, smiling.

The athletes had finished parading, and it was time for President Reagan to speak. He spoke in person and was limited to 16 words, although he wanted more.

An audio tape from the President was played, no video. There were interpreters delivering the message in sign language at every section. The President’s voice was visual.

The Hollywood display cost more than $5 million and featured a cast of 12,000. There were 1,065 balloons and 84 grand pianos. Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson sang a song entitled, “Reach out and Touch Somebody’s Hand.” That’s how it ended.

There was a cast of 1,000 parading around the track at the stadium. Balloons were released, but not nearly so many as at the Olympics. Miss Deaf America both sang and signed, “Hands,” a song about being deaf and how music can be made through hands. That’s how the opening ceremony for the Games for the Deaf ended.