The centennial of the Deaflympics is approaching! The International Olympic Committee-approved international multi-sport competition will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025 with the Deaflympics. This weekend marks the start of the Deaflympics summer games, which will take place in Tokyo from November 15–26. Every competition, from wrestling to swimming to soccer, is run by Deaf people for Deaf people and makes use of visual cues. The USA is represented by 51 Deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes at the 2025 Summer Deaflympics, and you may watch every event for free! Here’s how to watch the Deaflympics in 2025.
How to watch the Deaflympics 2025:
- Dates: November 15-26, 2025
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- TV channel: N/A
- Streaming: Free on YouTube
The Deaflympics: What is it?
An international sporting event run by and for Deaf people is called the Deaflympics. In the Deaflympics, athletes who are deaf or hard of hearing compete utilizing visual signals. The Deaflympics are older than the Paralympics, having debuted in Paris in 1924. Until they have a qualifying disability, deaf athletes are not currently allowed to compete in the Paralympics.
On its FAQ website, UK Deaf Sport, which is in charge of Great Britain’s Deaflympics squad, explains the distinction between the Deaflympics and the Paralympics, stating: “Many Deaf people do not consider themselves disabled, particularly in physical or intellectual ability.” Instead, we identify as members of a linguistic and cultural minority.
Deaflympics dates for 2025:
The official dates of the 2025 Deaflympics are November 15–26, 2025 (although the soccer competition begins early on November 14).
2025 Deaflympics sports:
The 2025 Summer Deaflympics will feature the following games:
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Athletics
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Badminton
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Basketball
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Beach Volleyball
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Bowling
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Cycling Road
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Football
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Golf
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Handball
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Judo
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Karate
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Mountain Bike
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Orienteering
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Shooting
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Soccer
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Swimming
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Table Tennis
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Taekwondo
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Tennis
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Volleyball
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Wrestling Freestyle
- Wrestling Greco-Roman
Where are the 2025 Summer Deaflympics?
The Deaflympics will be held in Tokyo for the first time ever.
USA’s 2025 Deaflympics Team:
The United States, which has participated in the Deaflympics since 1935, is currently the country with the most medals in Deaflympics history.
Team USA is competing in the Deaflympics this year with 51 athletes. The complete list is available on the website for the 2025 Summer Deaflympics.
The schedule for the 2025 Deaflympics:
The official 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics website has a complete calendar of events for each sport.
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