ANKARA, July 18 -- The 23rd Summer Deaflympics kicked off on late Tuesday in Turkey's Black Sea side city Samsun, with more than 3,000 athletes from 97 countries watching the opening ceremony.

The Deaflympics, previously called World Games for the Deaf, will be held from July 18 to 30 at 37 sports facilities in eight different districts of Samsun.

The participants will compete in 21 categories, including track-and-field, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cycling, football, golf, handball, judo, karate, mountain bike, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball and wrestling.

The Chinese delegation with 107 athletes will take part in nine events.

Around 1,500 volunteers are carrying out duties during the tournament, of whom 250 are deaf. In addition, 500 sign language translators will work at the event.

The first Deaflympics was organized by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) in Paris in 1924.

【体坛英语资讯：Turkey host Summer Deaflympics in Samsun】相关文章：

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Brangelina ready for fifth child

★ 体坛英语资讯：Liu begins training in isolation

★ 体坛英语资讯：Bayi loses do-or-die Game 4 to exit CBA play-offs

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Hong Kongs Chow takes on Japanese cartoon

★ 体坛英语资讯：Boston stays hot at home

★ 体坛英语资讯：Djokovic tops Federer at Australian Open

★ 体坛英语资讯：Beijing Olympic flame reaches India

★ 体坛英语资讯：Diving champ marries pop singer

★ 体坛英语资讯：Indiana Jones tops hero poll

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Lindsay Lohans father wont walk her down aisle