International Committee of Silent Chess (ICSC)
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE of SILENT CHESS
The International Committee of Silent Chess (I.C.S.C.) was founded in 1949 in Copenhagen (Denmark) and is recognised by Federation Internationale des Echecs (F.I.D.E.) and by the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.); it publishes its periodical magazine “Mitteilungsblatt” (I.C.S.C. Bulletin) every four months
The I.C.S.C. is an international organisation based on voluntary service. It establishes and organizes the World Individuals events for both Deaf men and women, World Teams Deaf Chess Championships, European, Asian (Continental) Clubs Chess Championships and friendly international tournaments.
I have to confess that I was not even aware of the existence of deaf-chess ! Or that deaf chess players have their own international chess organization. I must have thought that deaf chess players were not severely enough handicapped to need their own federation! Silly me!
The official website for the ICSC is: http://web.tiscali.it/icsc_w/index.htm
What is a deaf chess player? According to Article II of the ICSC Statutes and Regulations:
1. Only deaf players can take part in all I.C.S.C. events.
. In I.C.S.C. team events, team captains must be deaf.
.The participants must be members of their national association or club of the deaf.
.The participants must be members of their national association or club of the deaf.
2. Persons are considered deaf if they have a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in the better ear (3-tone frequency average at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hertz ISO 1964 Standards).
3. Every participant must submit the I.C.S.C. an audiogram that is not more than one year old signed by a qualified audiologist. The form for this will be supplied by the I.C.S.C.
.Once the participant’s audiogram has been accepted by the I.C.S.C. it is likely that no further testing will he required depending upon the type of the hearing loss.
.If the audiogram has already been submitted for a previous I.C.S.C. event, it is not necessary to submit a new audiogram.
.If the audiogram for the participant is not submitted by the country-member before any I.C.S.C. event, a fine (to be determined by the Congress) will be imposed.
.This participant will be required to undergo audiometric testing and expenses shall be met by the said country-member.
4. If doubt arises as to the deafness of a participant the I.C.S.C. is entitled to submit that person to an ad hoc examination by a specialist and, if needs be, disqualify the person in question by deleting all the points scored by him and the country represented by him.
That country must also meet all expenses for the medical examination.
These expenses, however, must first be advanced by the complainant who shall forfeit their expenses, if the accusations is proved to be incorrect.
5. Participants are forbidden to wear hearing aids during competitions.
If any participant is found proven to be wearing a hearing aid during the match, this participant will forfeit the game.
The cochlear implants are considered equivalent to wearing hearing aids. The function must be switched off during the competion
This is all very fascinating! You need to be legally deaf inorder to qualify for deaf competitions, and you are NOT allowed to use a hearing aid during play! Sort of reminds me of the rule about the use of cell phones during play, only stupider! What possible advantage is there to using a hearing aid during play??
Never-the-less, the ICSC is a serious and professionally run international organization! The ICSC organizes all sorts of competitions.
The I.C.S.C. is based on democratic principles: its purpose is the promotion of chess among the deaf of all nations, general improvement of their cultural level and chess knowledge and achievement of close international cooperation among chess players in their activites regarding the science of chess and in their other and cultural activities. (Statutes and Regulations)
Just next week begins the XIX European Deaf Chess Club Team Championships in Hamburg:
The I.C.S.C. controls international chess events and supervises observance of the rules. It regulates the award of international titles in the field of deaf chess.
The following events are organised under the auspices of the I.C.S.C.:
(a) World Individual Deaf Chess Championships
(b) World Individual Ladies Deaf Chess Championships
(c) World Individual Juniors Deaf Chess Championships
(d) World Team Deaf Chess Championships
(e) World Team Ladies Deaf Chess Championships
(f) International Cup of the I.C.S.C. Championships
Absolutely fascinating! I have learned something new today(!)…the following has been grabbed from the official ICSC website:
Mr. Visco, President of the ICSC
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS