Çankırı, a central Turkish city, hosted an unusual event on Tuesday evening - a festival for the hearing impaired. Concerts and speeches were interpreted in sign language in the event, promoted as first of its kind in Turkey, and was largely silent save for a concert by a non-hearing impaired singer. The festival was a culmination of a training program by the Çankırı Municipality that taught 400 youths sign language. After an opening speech by the mayor and governor, sign language trainees presented a play followed by a concert where songs were interpreted in sign language for guests.