TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS | Deaflympics Square, 15-26 November, 2025

What’s Deaflympics Square?

The Deaflympics Square, in addition to being the Main Operation Centre, transport hub, media centre, training venue, and providing other core functions for the competition, is also an open space for everyone to enjoy, from children to adults.
Including contents promoting understanding of Deaf culture and Deaf sports, also provides various programmes and interactive experiences, including those on universal communication technology.
As admission is free please feel free to visit.
※ Some areas will be restricted to athletes and accredited personnel only.

Dates & Venue
Dates: Saturday 15 November – Wednesday 26 November, 2025
Hours: 9:00-20:00
Venue: National Olympics Memorial Youth Centre

Address: 3-1 Yoyogi Kamizono-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0052, Japan
Admission: Free

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The 1924 ‘Silent Games’, first step towards modern deaf sports |YouTube-RFI English

Decades before the Paralympic Games were born, the world’s first multi-discipline competition for athletes with a disability took place in Paris in the summer of 1924. Reserved for deaf competitors, the International Silent Games were a landmark in sports history and laid the foundations for today’s contests. An exhibition at France’s National Institute for the Deaf tells the story.

TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS | Nov 15 – 26

Games Period
15th to 26th November 2025 (12 days)

Participating countries/regions
Approximately 70 to 80 countries and regions

Number of Participants
Delegations from various countries: Approx. 6,000 people
(Approx. 3,000 athletes and approx. 3,000 ICSD officials, SDs, referees, and staff)

Vision for the Games

  • Connect people and society through the brilliance and values of deaf sports
  • Bridge the TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS to the world and the future
  • Realise an inclusive society where “everyone can make the most of their individuality and exert their abilities”

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Baseball camp for the deaf fulfills dreams — starting with the founder’s | MLB

Oh say can you sign?

Dozens of local deaf youth performed the National Anthem in sign language prior to the Iowa Cubs game on June 26 at Des Moines’ Principal Park, a highlight of the Triple-A team’s annual Deaf Culture Night. The players wore jerseys that spelled out “Iowa” in American Sign Language, and those same Anthem signers — participants in the Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf — threw out ceremonial first pitches and participated in between-inning promotions throughout the evening.

June 26 was a rainy night, but the enthusiasm of the campers was undampened. The following day they returned to the ballpark for a tour and to play on the field, interacting with players along the way.

As the Iowa Cubs’ team photographer, Dylan Heuer was, as usual, in the center of it all. On this night, however, Heuer’s role exceeded that of on-field documentarian. Deaf Culture Night, and the Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf that it benefits, are his creations.

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Remembering Mario D’Agata, boxing’s only deaf world champion ｜ BOXINGSCENE

On June 29, 1956 – 69 years ago this weekend – Mario D’Agata finally had his moment. His French rival Robert Cohen, who had controversially outpointed him two years earlier, had stayed in his corner when the bell rang to start the seventh. In front of an adoring crowd of 38,000 at Rome’s Stadio Olympico, D’Agata had become, after Primo Carnera, Italy’s second world boxing champion.

D’Agata would lose his crown in his first defense; unlike the third Italian world champion, Duilio Loi, his was not by standard metrics a Hall of Fame career. But he carved his own niche in the annals of boxing lore, because D’Agata could neither speak nor hear. He was boxing’s first, and to this day only, deaf-mute world champion.

Born on May 29, 1926, in the Tuscan town of Arezzo, he was one of three children out of seven to be born into the family without hearing, and when he was a teenager, the family moved to Rome in search of a cure. While there, D’Agata walked into a boxing gym after seeing a poster of a boxer on the front door and, intrigued and inspired, he resolved to try it out – his enthusiasm for the sport doubtless fired by countless street fights as a result of being taunted for his disability as a child.

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NHL in ASL: “That Deaf Ref” David McGregor | YouTube – NHL

David McGregor, a Deaf professional hockey referee based in Vancouver, shares his story of growing up a Deaf hockey fan and why NHL in ASL is instrumental in bridging the gap of hockey coverage for the Deaf and hard of hearing community.

NHL in ASL, presented by Scotiabank in Canada, will be returning for the second year in a row for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

The telecast will feature Deaf commentators providing real-time coverage of play-by-play and color commentary entirely in American Sign Language.

Available to stream exclusively on MAX in the U.S. and Sportsnet+ in Canada.

For more information visit https://www.nhl.com/fans/nhl-in-asl

‘NHL in ASL’ to return for 2025 Stanley Cup Final | NHL

NHL in ASL, a Sports Emmy-nominated alternate telecast dedicated completely to the Deaf and hard of hearing community using American Sign Language, returns for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced today. The NHL in partnership with P-X-P will produce every game of the Stanley Cup Final, for the second year in a row, with the telecasts made available to stream on Max in the U.S. and Sportsnet+ in Canada.

NHL in ASL, presented by Scotiabank in Canada, will once again feature Deaf commentators providing real-time coverage of play-by-play and color commentary in ASL during each game of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. This first-of-its-kind broadcast will expand in 2025 with player interviews live from both Rogers Place and Amerant Bank Arena, home of the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, respectively, and continue to provide a fully immersive and accessible viewing experience for fans.

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Aspen Camp

For over 50+ years, Aspen Camp has served thousands of deaf and hard of hearing children and youth across the country at its modest camp 17-acre riparian environment nestled along the Snowmass Creek near Aspen, Colorado.

Aspen Camp is 15+ acre riparian forest nestled along the Snowmass Creek situated 7,582′ above elevation in the Roaring Fork Valley, Colorado. With six programming facilities, Aspen Camp is the only year-round camp serving the hearing loss population and the sign language community.

Founded in 1967 by Reed Harris, Tom Sardy, and Lt. General William Martin along with support from the Pabst family and the Aspen Rotary Club. Aspen Camp continued to prosper, hosting well over 25,000 campers and families on its modest campground.

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NY/NJ Metropolitan Area 2025-2026 Deaf Awareness Sports Events | Stadium Journey

Gary Noll

Gary Noll, born Deaf in a New Jersey Deaf household, is a huge New Jersey/New York Sports fan. He proposes and raises awareness of Deaf and ASL (American Sign Language) sports events. Gary is an advocate of accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion, including promoting captioning and ASL communication technology during NJ/NY metropolitan sporting events.

Metropolitan New Jersey/New York Sports Stadiums and Their Efforts to Host Deaf Awareness Events in 2025 and 2026:

  1. Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

The New York Yankees baseball team will host its second annual Deaf Awareness Event on September 23 and 27, 2025. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing fans can purchase special event tickets, which include a Yankee ASL baseball cap.

Last year, the Yankees had over 600 fans in attendance for their first annual Deaf event, where the organization handed out a Yankee ASL t-shirt and a performer signed (ASL) the national anthem.

This year’s expected participants include Gallaudet University, NTID (National Technical Institute for the Deaf), RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology), Lexington School for the Deaf, American Society of Deaf Children, NY School for the Deaf-Fanwood, and others.

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Glenwood resident sees third World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship as mentoring opportunity | Post Independent

Troy Benson wouldn’t know who he was without the game of hockey. His passion for the beautiful yet violent sport bred him into one of the best deaf hockey players on the planet.

“I love this sport and I wouldn’t be who I am without it,” he said. “The adrenaline rush I get from the speed and intensity of the game is unmatched. I’ve always had that competitive nature from competing with my two older brothers. We always wanted to be better than each other.”

The University of British Columbia campus will host the best deaf athletes from all across the globe from May 7-17 for the fourth World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship. Benson’s sights are set on feeling another gold medal draped around his neck.

“I am proud to be representing the USA. It’s a real honor and privilege to wear the jersey,” Benson said. “Not everyone gets a chance to play for team USA and luckily I am one of them.”

Benson never saw his impaired hearing as a disability. He instead sees it as a direct challenge to improve.

“People who see me as a disability because of my hearing also challenge me to become a better hockey player to show them that hearing loss isn’t a disability. I am thankful for what it’s given me and all the opportunities it has brought,” he said.

The World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship (WDIHC) is finally making a comeback after an eight-year hiatus. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the 2021 tournament back to May 2025. Benson will headline USA’s roster in Vancouver in early May during the fourth WDIHC.

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