This cigarette bowl – a souvenir from the Milan International Silent Games in 1957 – was donated to Auckland Deaf Society by Olgerts Rublis, born in 1922. Olgerts competed in two sports at the Milan 1957 Games, in Milan, Italy from 25-30 August 1957 in athletics (15km race walk) and table tennis (singles).

This was at a time where there was no National Deaf Sport body that was affiliated to CISS. He was the first New Zealand Deaf athlete to participate in the Silent Games.  It was not until 1963 that it was agreed by New Zealand Deaf Clubs and Societies to set up a National Deaf Sporting body, to control the N.Z. Deaf Societies Convention, and to allow deaf people who are members of a recognised Deaf Club or Society representing Deaf people at an International Deaf Games, and that National Body would become affiliated to the CISS.

It was proposed in 1958 to proceed with the establishment of a National Deaf Sporting body but this was dashed by Waikato Deaf Club who preferred not to become incorporated. It finally proceeded in 1963.