16th Winter Deaflympics.

The Deaflympics, founded in 1924, is the second oldest international multi-cultural sports event in the world, surpassed only by the Olympic Games which were founded in 1894.

Competition was world class, with elite deaf athletes from around the world competing at some of the same venues used in the 2002 Olympic Games. Downhill (alpine) skiing and snowboarding events were held at Park City Mountain Resort. Nordic (cross-country) skiing competition was held at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, and ice hockey and curling competition were held at the Steiner Ice Center in the Salt Lake City Sports Complex, just a few minutes by light rail (tram) from the Deaflympics headquarters hotel.

To enhance cultural exchanges between athletes and the thousands of individuals attending from around the world, the 16th Winter Deaflympics organizing committee contracted for central lodging facilities accessible to both deaf and hearing individuals. The headquarters hotel, Little America Hotel (LAH), was chosen with this particular goal in mind. Despite its name, LAH is a huge hotel facility with over 800 rooms and many large multipurpose rooms suitable for various activities. LAH, one of the official 2002 Olympic Games hotels--where the International Olympic Committee stayed in 2002--is well-known for its great buffet meals, considered among the best served in the western United States.