Swiss Deaf Sport

What Swiss Deaf Sport does

Swiss Deaf Sport is Switzerland's national sports federation for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, headquartered in Zürich at Oerlikonerstrasse 98. Founded in 1930 with roots tracing to the 1916 establishment of the Gehörlosen Sportverein Zürich, the federation was rebranded to its current name on January 1, 2020, and positions itself as the oldest organized disability sports federation in Switzerland. The organization operates as a non-profit association with 5 paid staff and a 5-member volunteer executive board, governing 11 sports disciplines (Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Futsal, Judo, Athletics, Orienteering, Padel, Shooting, Alpine Ski, Snowboard) through 12 affiliated member sports clubs (8 German-speaking, 3 French-speaking, 1 Italian-speaking) and 4 collective members.

The federation's product surface is service-based rather than technology-based. Core offerings include competitive pathways to Swiss Championships, European Championships, World Championships, and the Deaflympics; an annual youth sports camp (the 26th edition in Fiesch/VS drew 37+ participants in 2025); the 24th Youth Athletics Meeting in Zofingen with 96 participants in 2025; coach certification through SDS Coach, SDS Sport Specialist, and SDS Handicap Sport Responsible credentials; and member benefits including exclusive discounts with ERIMA (apparel, 5-year agreement, up to 40% off), Update Fitness (3-year fitness partner agreement with free membership for Quadrant A athletes), Babolat (50% equipment discount), and Europcar (25% Switzerland / 15% international rental discount). The underlying technology is limited to a WordPress-based multilingual website (DE/FR/IT via Polylang), Infomaniak newsletter distribution, and standard web analytics.

Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring membership fees from 12 sports clubs and 4 collective members; transactional event and licensing fees (e.g., CHF 100 per Futsal team); training-course revenue and BSV subsidies routed through PluSport Behindertensport Schweiz; and donation/sponsorship income via postal account 60-12639-8 and commercial partners. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on affiliated clubs as primary distribution channels and on national/international championships and camps as member acquisition touchpoints. International competition access is enabled exclusively through the federation's memberships in the International Committee of Sport for the Deaf (ICSD) and the European Deaf Sport Organization (EDSO), with formal recognition as an Olympic partner via Swiss Olympic formalized in 2024-2025.

Name

Swiss Deaf Sport

Legal name

Swiss Deaf Sport

Website

https://swissdeafsport.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Swiss Deaf Sport is the national non-profit sports federation for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes in Switzerland, managing 11 sports disciplines across 12 member clubs and 4 collective members, and providing pathways to the Deaflympics, European, and World Championships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Sports Federation

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Regional/Continental Confederations & Associations (MPAKAFAD)

Keywords

• Deaf sports federation
• Disability sports association
• Athlete competition programs
• Youth sports development
• Coach education certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: 12 sports clubs and 4 collective members pay membership fees to the federation. Partner associations also pay partnership fees.
2. Event organization and licensing: Revenue from organizing national championships, tournaments, and other sporting events. Athletes require licenses to compete.
3. Donations and sponsorships: Charitable donations through postal account 60-12639-8. Sponsorship deals with partners like ERIMA (5-year agreement), Update Fitness (3-year agreement), and KAUF for official clothing.
4. Training courses and education: Coach training courses through partnerships with J+S (Jugend+Sport), esa (Erwachsenensport Schweiz), and Sport+Handicap EDUCATION. Subsidies for training courses requested through PluSport.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Swiss Deaf Sport is a non-profit national sports federation that organizes, governs, and develops competitive and recreational sports for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes in Switzerland. The federation delivers 11 sport disciplines (Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Futsal, Judo, Athletics, Orienteering, Padel, Shooting, Alpine Ski, Snowboard), runs national and international championships (Swiss, European, World, Deaflympics), operates youth development programs and annual sports camps, and provides coach certification pathways. It supports a community of 12 affiliated sports clubs and 4 collective members.

Product overview

Swiss Deaf Sport is a national sports federation for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes in Switzerland, organized as a non-profit association with 11 sport departments. The organization does not offer a software product but provides sports programs and services including competitive sports (Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Futsal, Judo, Athletics, Orienteering, Padel, Shooting, Alpine Skiing, Snowboard), youth sports programs, sports camps, coach education, and event organization including Deaflympics, European Championships, World Championships, and Swiss Championships participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deaflympics Program Participation program in the Summer and Winter Deaflympics, the premier international sports competitions for deaf athletes held in four-year cycles, governed by ICSD. Targets elite Swiss deaf athletes who meet audiogram eligibility requirements.
• European Championships Program Participation program in European-level deaf sports competitions organized by EDSO across multiple disciplines. Targets elite Swiss deaf athletes qualifying for European-level competition.
• World Championships Program Participation program in ICSD-organized World Championships across multiple deaf sports disciplines. Targets elite Swiss deaf athletes qualifying for world-level competition.
• Swiss Championships National-level Swiss Deaf Championships organized across all 11 sport disciplines including Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Futsal, Judo, Athletics, Orienteering, Padel, Shooting, Alpine Skiing, and Snowboard. Targets deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes nationwide.
• Annual Sports Camp (Sportcamp) Annual youth sports camp offering children and teenagers aged 8-20 a week of diverse sports activities, skill development, and team building. Targets deaf and hard-of-hearing youth in Switzerland.
• Youth Sports Program Youth athletics meetings, junior competitions, and development programs targeting young deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes to build competitive foundations and community ties.
• Coach Education and Certification Training pathways for becoming a Swiss Deaf Sport coach, including SDS Coach, SDS Sport Specialist, and SDS Handicap Sport Responsible certifications, with subsidized course fees through PluSport. Targets coaches working with deaf athletes at member clubs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96 young athletes participated in 24th Youth Athletics Meeting 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Visual SurfminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2025Partnership for wakesurf courses on Lake Thun. Surf instruction provided in sign language by Simon Plachtzik.
• Padel&SportsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2025Partnership for padel introduction courses. Organized first successful padel day in Villmergen/AG with 8 participants.
• Swiss OlympiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Swiss Olympic is the Olympic partner of Swiss Deaf Sport, providing official recognition and pathways for athletes. The partnership was formalized with membership approval in 2024, with association fees to be discussed in extraordinary delegate assembly.
• ERIMAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial clothing partner with a 5-year agreement signed. Provides sports apparel with up to 40% discount for member clubs and athletes. ERIMA is the exclusive supplier for national team athlete clothing.
• Update FitnesscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFitness partner with 3-year agreement. National team, Quadrant A, and youth athletes receive free fitness center access. Quadrant B athletes receive discounted annual memberships. Club members receive limited discount vouchers.
• EDSO (European Deaf Sport Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Deaf Sport is a member of EDSO and represents Switzerland at European Championships and international competitions through this membership.
• ICSD (International Committee of Sport for the Deaf)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Deaf Sport is a member of ICSD and represents Switzerland at Deaflympics and World Championships through this membership.
• PluSport Behindertensport SchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective member of PluSport. Swiss Deaf Sport receives subsidies for training camps and courses through PluSport. Subsidies from BSV (Federal Social Insurance Office) must be requested through PluSport.
• EuropcarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive discounts for SDS members: 25% discount on vehicle rentals in Switzerland, 15% discount on international rentals. Access code provided upon email request.
• BabolatminorGTM or Marketing Partner50% discount on Babolat products for national team athletes. Orders processed 2-3 times per year through [email protected]. Special prizes at padel and badminton Swiss championships.
• KAUFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor providing formal shirts for association events. Black for conferences, white for delegate assemblies, blue for special events.
• Genossenschaft Gehörlosenhilfe Zürich (GGHZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective member of Swiss Deaf Sport, representing deaf community support services in Zurich.
• Swiss Paraplegic Centre (Dr. Phil Jungen - Verbandsarzt)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssociation doctor providing medical services. Located at Guido A. Zäch Strasse 1, 6207 Nottwil.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fédération Française Handisport: French national federation for disability sports, serving athletes with hearing, visual, and physical disabilities. Comparable in structure as a national disability sports umbrella with regional clubs and international competition pathways.
• Deutscher Gehörlosen-Sportverband (DGS): National deaf sports federation of Germany, the largest deaf sports organization in Europe. Direct functional peer to Swiss Deaf Sport, managing national championships, youth programs, and Deaflympics/ICSD participation pathways for German deaf athletes.
• USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF): US national governing body for deaf sports, sending athletes to the Deaflympics and Pan American Games for the Deaf. Closest large-scale functional peer with multi-sport, national championship, and international pathway focus.
• British Deaf Sports Council: UK national body for deaf sports, organizing national championships and managing the UK pathway to the Deaflympics. Directly comparable in mission and structure to Swiss Deaf Sport, with member clubs and international federation membership.

Emerging players

• Special Olympics Switzerland: Swiss affiliate of Special Olympics International, serving athletes with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a national disability sports federation operating multi-sport national programs, coach training, and international competition pathways within Switzerland.
• PluSport Behindertensport Schweiz: Swiss umbrella organization for disability sports (broader than deaf-only) and a collective member of Swiss Deaf Sport. Directly comparable in operating geography and provides training subsidies and coach education that overlap with Swiss Deaf Sport's offerings.

Others

• Swiss Olympic: National Olympic Committee of Switzerland and strategic partner of Swiss Deaf Sport since 2024. Related as the umbrella body governing Olympic sport federations in Switzerland, providing funding, recognition, and integration pathways to member associations.

Broad incumbents

• Swiss Paralympic Committee: National Paralympic Committee for Switzerland, serving athletes with physical and visual disabilities. Broader incumbent in the Swiss disability sports ecosystem; comparable as a recognized national federation with international competition pathways and federal funding access.
• ICSD (International Committee of Sport for the Deaf): Global governing body for deaf sports and organizer of the Deaflympics. Swiss Deaf Sport is a member; structurally comparable as a multi-sport deaf federation with athlete licensing, championship organization, and international recognition authority.

Regional players

• European Deaf Sport Organization (EDSO): Continental confederation of which Swiss Deaf Sport is a member, organizing the European Deaf Championships across multiple sports. Directly comparable as a higher-tier deaf sports body that provides competition pathways and governs European-level events.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/swissdeafsport
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvhe8pTrqJI-vP6NLPiKGfg
• Facebookfacebook.com/swissdeafsport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swissdeafsport
• Instagraminstagram.com/swissdeafsport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swiss Deaf Sport