POPRAD, February 18, (WEBNOVINY) – High Tatras entrepreneurs clustered in the High Tatras Tourism Association demand investigation of the “worldwide shame” and drawing conclusions against the organizations and individuals, which caused, that the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) canceled the 17th winter Deaflympics in the High Tatras. “The decision to cancel the games due to misguiding the entire community of deaf athletes from the whole world by the Slovak Deaflympics Committee has harshly damaged the good image of the High Tatras. It will take very long, until we manage to convince the visitors from both Slovakia and abroad about our earnestness,” claims the statement of the High Tatras Tourism Association.
Several countries already had their athletes in the High Tatras, several others were at the airports on their way to Slovakia, some others were only packed and waiting for their departure in their country. According to the Tatras businessmen, cancellation of the games was a worldwide shame, which not only has affected the deaf community, but the High Tatras as well, together with Slovakia as the organizer of the event.
The High Tatras tourism businesses have been highly affected by this situation, as clients, who have booked accommodation there for the weeks and months forthcoming, started to ask after the Deaflympics cancellation, whether their bookings are really valid. The guests also ask, what is going on in the High Tatras, until now known as a reliable organizer of international sports events.
On Friday, February 18, the long awaited 17th winter Deaflympics were supposed to start at Strbske Pleso in the High Tatras mountains with a ceremony under the ski lumping hill. It should have been another chance to promoting the High Tatras, as well as entire Slovakia. After the winter Deaflympics organizing committee, led by Jaromir Ruda, failed to provide financing for the event in spite of repeated promises, the ICSD decided to cancel the event a week before its beginning.
SITA