Today, 96 national deaf sports federations are members of CISS. The need for separate games for deaf athletes is not just evident in the numbers of participants. Deaf athletes are distinguished from all others in their special communication needs on the sports field, as well as in the social interaction that is an equally vital part of the games. The first Winter Games, held in Seefeld, Austria, in 1949, included 33 athletes from 5 nations. In 2007, the 16th Winter Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, United States, 298 athletes from 23 countries participated. Taipei, Chinese Taipei, will host the 21st Summer Deaflympics in September 2009. High Tatras, Slovakia, will host the 17th Winter Deaflympics in February 2011. Athens, Greece, will host the 22nd Summer Deaflympics in August 2013. For more information go to: http://www.deaflympics.com/about/index.asp?ID=249 To subscribe to CISS e-News, go to: http://www.deaflympics.com/news/enews/subscription.asp.