Tokyo was officially selected as the host city of the 2025 Deaflympics at the Congress of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) held in Austria (Vienna) on 9 and 10 September 2022.
Upon the decision, Mr. Fujisaburo Ishino, President of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, and Mr. Yosuke Ota, President of the Japan Deaf Sports Federation, will issue the following comments.
The Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) and the Japanese Deaf Sports Federation(JDSF) held the first meeting of the Deaflympics 2025 Bid Preparation Division on Monday, January 18, 2021. All the Advisors and Members of Division met in person or online in the middle of a state of emergency due to COVID-19.
At the meeting, the progression status of the campaign activities to have the Deaflympic Games hosted by Japan was shared with the participants and the determination to work closely together with each other for the successful bid was confirmed.
The meeting was significant in that it showed a proactive attitude of Japanese sporting community, which attempts to establish an inclusive society through sports, in supporting for successful bid of the Deaflympic Games that aims to create societies where everyone can access information, with collaborative efforts of both disabled and able-bodied people.
International Committee of the Sports for the Deaf (ICSD, the governing body of international deaf sports and organizer of the Deaflympic Games, had its 47th congress in Italy, from December 9th through 11th, 2019. The Congress elected Mr. Kang Chen（陳康）from Taiwan for the new president of ICSD. Mr. Chen is the first ICSD president from Asia.
– The 47th ICSD Congress was held (Italy, December 9th and 11th, 2019) (Japanese)
With an aim to discuss ICSD reform as well as to strengthen the relationship between the Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) and ICSD, JFD invited Mr. Chen and the CEO, Mr. Dmitry Rebrov to Japan from January 20 through January 23, 2020. Mr. Chen has successfully led 2009 Summer Deaflympic Games in Asia, held in Taipei, Taiwan, while the deaf sports has been historically initiated by European countries. JFD is determined to be committed to the further development of deaf sport, by working with the ICSD and the chairperson of the ICSD Reform Committee.
from 1 February 2010 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:
For further awareness of the Deaflympic Games to the deaf children, Japanese Federation of the Deaf- Sports Committee (JFD-SC) organized their first Deaflympic Mini Festival at the Toyama Sunrise gymnasium, Shinjuku, Tokyo, on December 27, 2009. 70 people participated to the event, including 30 deaf junior and senior high school students, medalists and athletes performed at the Summer Deaflympic Games in Taipei, managing staff members of the deaf sports organizations, and students and faculty from Tsukuba University of Technology.
The program started with a lecture, “What is Deaflympic Games?” by Yutaka Osugi, JFD-SC Education and Development Division, and screening of the promotion DVD of the Deaflympic Games, and went on to the trial session of the Deaflympic sports. In table tennis, volleyball, and 20 meter shuttle run, the medalists had guidance and coaching to the individual children, which made the Deaflympic Games familiar to the participants.
The children enjoyed trying the shuttle run, using the equipment to convert the perceived sound into light and images for the cooperation of the Tsukuba University of Technology. They also had a stamp collection at the trial areas and quiz, and the winners received the Taipei Deaflympic goods.
Shoji Yamane, President of the JFD-SC, commented “We will make more effort to raise public awareness of the deaf sports for further development of the Deaf sports”.
from 15 February 2007 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:
The 16th Winter Deaflympics was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. from February 1 to 10, 2007, hosted by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). A total of 314 athletes from 24 countries competed in Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross Country Skiing, Ice Hockey, and Curling.
Japan sent a delegation of 39 people, including coaches, staff, etc. The 17 athletes from Japan competed in 11 different categories of 3 competitions: Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, and Cross Country Skiing. The athletes have been practicing hard for the Deaflympics in special training camps.
from April 2004 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:
Heated Competition and Warm Friendship on Mt. Tateyama
The 35th National Winter Games for the Deaf (organized by the Japanese Federation of the Deaf and hosted by Toyama Deaf Welfare Association) was held for 4 days (February 26-29) in Gokurakuzaka Skiing Area in Oyama-cho, Toyama Prefecture.
Competitions were held in three categories: Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding and Technique. 87 athletes from all over Japan (except for the 2 blocks of Chugoku and Kyushu) participated.
The courses of the 2000 National Athletic Meet were made available for the games and athletes gallantly challenged the courses that require high techniques.
