Christchurch 1989: World Deaf Games

After an unsuccessful bid to host the 1985 World Deaf Games, the New Zealanders weren’t deterred! In 1983, Christchurch won by a landslide in their second bid. With 30 nations attending, 955 athletes and a 112-member New Zealand team with 61 athletes, it was not only New Zealand’s biggest team but also, this was the first time the World Deaf Games was held in the Southern Hemisphere. The 16th World Games for the Deaf was hosted 7-17 January 1989.

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video – Taonga source: Elizabeth Hines

Memories of triple World Deaf Games champion John Ooteman

New Zealand’s most acclaimed Deaf gold medallist, John Ooteman was a triple World Games for the Deaf champion (Koln 1981, Los Angeles 1985, Christchurch 1989). His story is told through the eyes of Elizabeth Hines, his Deaf sister.

Elizabeth Hines

video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

Christchurch WGD Men’s Basketball Final

Crowd based footage of the Men’s Basketball final at the 1989 World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch, which USA won 127-56. This footage includes the warm up, edited highlights of the match, medal ceremony, team photos, and post-match socialising.

Rodney Roberts

<img data-lazyloaded="1" data-placeholder-resp="128x128" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxMjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMTI4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTI4IDEyOCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" data-src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-rodneyroberts.jpg" alt="Rodney Roberts" width="128" height="128" /><noscript><img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-rodneyroberts.jpg" alt="Rodney Roberts" width="128" height="128" />

video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Black and White Fancy Dress Fundraiser for 1989 WGD Christchurch

The Black and White themed Fancy Dress party at Christchurch Deaf Society on 28th May 1988 was a fundraiser for the World Games for the Deaf. Creative members dressed-up as prisoners, punk rockers, Spanish costume dress with bolero, nuns, waitresses, and rugby league players!

Deaf Society of Canterbury

article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Penny…and her thoughts

Penny Went collected a silver medal at the last World Games for the Deaf – now she is home and aiming for gold.

article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Wellington fields 16 at deaf Games

Sixteen Wellingtonians are part of the 97 strong New Zealand team to compete in the 16th World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch. Local members of the team and the sport they are competing in are listed.

article – Taonga source: The Press

Hearing controversy at Deaf Games

The first big controversy wracked the sixteenth World Games for the Deaf in Christchurch yesterday, when members of the Soviet table tennis team had to take an audio test because of suspicions that they could hear too well.

article – Taonga source: The Press

Clever new system for starting

The starting equipment to be used at the Queen Elizabeth II complex is far more sophisticated. It uses a traffic-light type devised by a Christchurch man, Mr Ted Gilliver.

publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: January 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 1)

publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1989 (Vol. 23. No. 1)

article – Taonga source: The Press

Goodbye Christchurch, Hello Sofia

The sixteenth World Games for the Deaf wraps up on 18 January 1989, with the next hosts being Sofia, Bulgaria. Members of the New Zealand team perform a farewell haka for their overseas visitors.

article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Deaf All Whites crushed 18-0

The New Zealand team found itself out of its depth in the World Deaf Games soccer tournament, being crushed 18-0 by Netherlands in its opening match on Saturday night at Queen Elizabeth II Park.

publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: December 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 4)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

article – Taonga source: The Press

Interpreters spent year on training

Nearly 90 Christchurch people have spent the last year training to be interpreters at the World Games for the Deaf, with about 50 deaf people teaching the volunteers their language.

article – Taonga source: Pam Witko

‘Review’ team getting ready to report

When the 1400 competitors and officials arrive in Christchurch to take part in the World Games for the Deaf, TVNZ's news programme for the deaf will be ready and waiting. The small staff of the weekly programme "News Review" is being boosted by four journalists to cover the events of the three-week games in January.

Pam Witko

article – Taonga source: The Press

World Games for the Deaf: Saturday 14 January 1989

A full page update from The Press, on the results from the World Games for the Deaf - Saturday 14 January. Smith smashes record; Medal prospects; Basketball chance; Fast Swimming; Close tennis final.

video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

Handheld footage of the closing ceremony of the 16th World Games for the Deaf

Handheld footage from the stadium shows the closing ceremony of the 16th World Games for the Deaf held in Christchurch. Athletes parade into the stadium to witness closing speeches with their family and fans looking on.

Rodney Roberts

<img data-lazyloaded="1" data-placeholder-resp="128x128" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxMjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMTI4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTI4IDEyOCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" data-src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-rodneyroberts.jpg" alt="Rodney Roberts" width="128" height="128" /><noscript><img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-rodneyroberts.jpg" alt="Rodney Roberts" width="128" height="128" />

Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

CISS World Deaf Games Accreditation Card: Barbara Hazelwood, Team Manager, Basketball

Manawatu Deaf Society

<img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-ManawatuDS.jpg" alt="Manawatu Deaf Society" width="128" height="128" />

article – Taonga source: The Press

TVNZ taken to task

The chairman of the Hillary Commission, Sir Ronald Scott, has joined in the chorus of criticism over television coverage of the World Games for the Deaf. He said Television New Zealand was insensitive to the needs of the deaf when covering the Games.

Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Tee Shirt: INTERPRETER, XI World Games for the Deaf

Manawatu Deaf Society

<img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-ManawatuDS.jpg" alt="Manawatu Deaf Society" width="128" height="128" />

Object – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Souvenir Badge: 16th World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch 1989

Margaret Coutts

video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

NZ vs Sweden Men’s Basketball at WGD in Christchurch

Edited crowd-shot footage of the men’s basketball heat at the World Games for the Deaf 1989, between New Zealand and Sweden. Sweden won the match 126-61.

Rodney Roberts

<img data-lazyloaded="1" data-placeholder-resp="128x128" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxMjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMTI4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTI4IDEyOCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" data-src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-rodneyroberts.jpg" alt="Rodney Roberts" width="128" height="128" /><noscript><img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-rodneyroberts.jpg" alt="Rodney Roberts" width="128" height="128" />

publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: March 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 2)

video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

History through Young Eyes: Interview with Jeff Went

Jeff Went talks about his involvement with Deaf sports and the 1989 World Deaf Games in Christchurch where he volunteered as an ‘international interpreter’ doing 12 hour days over 12 days!

Auckland Deaf Society

article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

Italians win volleyball

The New Zealand volleyball team was missing its top five players when it came up against the Italians in its first match in the World Games for the Deaf. New Zealand went down to the more experienced Italians, 3-0, failing to score any points.

video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

‘Spot On’ visits a Deaf basketball training session

The educational TV series ‘Spot On’, visits a Deaf basketball training session to catch up with Royce Flynn and Megan Mansfield, and understand how the sport is played by Deaf athletes, and controlled by a Deaf referee.

Television New Zealand Archive

article – Taonga source: The Press

Late basketball win

Ross Freemantle, of New Zealand, works his way into the Finnish goal area in a basketball match in the World Games for the Deaf at Cowles Stadium yesterday. The New Zealand team led until the last two seconds, but lost, 78-79.

article – Taonga source: The Press

Games cost drain funds

New Zealand will have to struggle to send a team to the next World Games for the Deaf because of the huge cost of staging the 1989 event which ended at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday.

article – Taonga source: Christchurch Star

First record falls in swimming

New Zealand swimmers Kathryn Olsson and Anva Cosgrove made their first appearance in the pool in the 100m freestyle. They finished fifth in their respective heats and failed to make the finals.

article – Taonga source: The Press

Twelve sports form busy programme

A summary of each sport featuring in the upcoming VXI World Deaf Games in Christchurch – soccer, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, handball, track and field, wrestling, cycling, swimming and badminton, with New Zealand contenders for medals.

publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

New Zealand Deaf News: Winter 1989 (Vol. 23. No. 2)